Home Blog Page 822

Public talk on depression and anxiety at NUIG

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway Daily news public lecture on depression and anxiety at NUIG

A public lecture in NUIG will talk about depression and anxiety in the modern world and the ways in which society fosters it.

The lecture from psychotherapist, author and trainer, Dr Barbara Dowds is titled ‘Listening to Depression and Anxiety: Human Needs and What Makes Life Worth Living’.

During the talk Dr Dowds will address the question as to why depression and anxiety have increased so rapidly in Ireland and worldwide in recent decades.

Her argument is that a fragmented society that is obsessed with winning and achieving success has caused a ‘crisis of identity’ many people.

These social pressures result in two different reactions she says, people who internalise it develop depression or anxiety, while those who push it outwards express it in the anger, hatred, and blaming we see in populism.

Dr Dowds is a Dublin based psychotherapist who has recently published a book entitled ‘Depression and the Erosion of the Self in Late Capitalism’, which investigates the reason for ongoing increases in depression and anxiety in contemporary society

“While we are inclined to think about depression and anxiety now as an illness, Barbara’s work shows that there is a very close relationship between the economy and society and people’s deep sense of themselves,” said Dr Eilis Ward from NUIG’s school of Political Science and Sociology.

He added that the competitiveness, individualism and isolation of the capitalist society we live in is damaging people’s mental wellbeing.

“Her work puts basic human need back into the centre of our view, the need to trust and be trusted, the need for belonging, for fairness and the need to have meaningful relationships in our lives.”

This lecture will take place at the Ryan Institute at NUIG on Thursday, May 9 at 6pm.

For more information contact Eilis Ward, School of Political Science and Sociology, NUI Galway at eilis.ward@nuigalway.ie.

COPE Galway asks election candidates to join homelessness pledge

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway Daily news COPE Galway extremely worried at record homelessness levels

COPE Galway is calling on candidates for the city and county councils to sign up to a pledge to tackle homelessness and improve social housing.

The pledge calls on all candidates in the upcoming local elections to: Meet housing targets by building new social housing, ensure an adequate and suitable response to homelessness, and encourage age-appropriate social housing options.

The local charity is encouraging the people of Galway to speak to their candidates about this crisis and encourage them to sign up to the pledge.

“Many of those with whom we currently work, who are in emergency accommodation today, were canvassed on the door steps of their own homes in 2014,” said COPE Galway CEO Martin O’Connor.

“They didn’t know how much their circumstances were going to change before the next opportunity came up to ask those running for our councils to address a most basic requirement: having a place to call home.”

There are currently 3,547 households on waiting lists for social housing across the city and county councils.

Of those, 1,600 have been waiting more than five years for housing.

COPE has said that there is an urgent need for an uptick in the amount of social housing being built to get Galway away from its reliance on the private rental sector.

The charity said that the Housing Assistance Payment is not a sustainable way to deliver on social housing needs.

“Social Housing builds provide security of tenure; HAP does not, as landlords can still end tenancies, leaving households in precarious situations and at a very real risk of homelessness”, said Mr O’Connor.

“We are asking candidates here in Galway to pledge that they will, if elected, work to ensure that their council increases its supply of social housing through building”.

COPE Galway points to research from March 2018 to illustrate the insecure nature of HAP for people who are in need of long-term housing.

The research showed that 5,938 households nationally had left the HAP scheme, of which 1,612 were as a result of landlords exiting the scheme.

The charity also highlighted that the people accessing homelessness services are not a homogeneous group with one solution fitting everyone.

“We are seeing increasing numbers of all family types and age cohorts including young adults and older people presenting as homeless, many with a range of different vulnerabilities, health and support needs and requiring suitable service responses, which are not always available”, explained Mr O’Connor.

He added that they are seeing an increasing number of people in the 45 to 54 year old age cohort who are facing challenges in the rental accommodation due to rising rents and insecurity of tenure.

According to Mr O’Connor, of those on social housing waiting lists in Galway 384 are over 60 years old.

“At the other end of the age scale, an increasing number of younger people are becoming homeless or are continuing to live with a parent due to the shortage of adequate age appropriate housing.”

“Again, this needs to be addressed now and we are calling on those seeking to be elected to our local authorities to give an undertaking to do this if elected”.

Work begins on €7 million Glenamaddy sewerage system improvements

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway Daily news Lack of sewerage infrastructure impeding housing Galway TD says

Work has begun on a €7 million scheme by Irish water and Galway County Council to upgrade the sewerage infrastructure in Glenamaddy.

Improvements being made to the sewerage system include the the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant at Mountkelly and a new pumping station on the Creggs Road.

In addition 700m of existing sewers will be upgrade or rehabilitated, and a further 1,700m of new rising main and outfall sewers will be laid.

The contract for the project has been awarded to the Kilcolgan based Ward and Burke Construction, with work expected to be completed by 2020.

Commenting on the project Colm Boyd of Irish Water, stated “Irish Water faces a serious challenge with the size and scale of issues with the wastewater across the country.”

“A sewer network and treatment plant that is fit for purpose is essential in order to support business and social development in Glenamaddy, and these works will facilitate ongoing growth.”

This project is part of an investment plan by Irish Water that aims to invest €5.5 billion on drinking water and wastewater quality and capacity and new infrastructure up to 2021.

Irish Water have said that once completed the improved sewerage system in Glenamaddy will lead to “improved public and environmental health, and provide a platform for social and economic development”.

50 cent bet lands Galway player €16,500 jackpot

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway Daily news Galway family syndicate "laughing, cheering and crying" after €250,000 Lotto win

One lucky person in Galway has made it rain with a 33,000 to 1 bet on the Euromillions.

According to Boyle Sports one person placed a measly €0.50 bet on four numbers coming up in the EuroMillions Plus draw on Tuesday, and took home €16,500.

The anonymous player placed their accumulator in a BoyleSports shop in Galway, gambling 7, 10, 17, and 18 to roll out.

When all four numbers came up, defying heavy odds, they’d turned a piece of pocket change into one hell of a pile of loot.

There was no winner of the €500,000 prize in the Euromillions Plus draw on Tuesday.

The full list of numbers were 7, 10, 13, 17, and 18.

Labour confirms three candidates for the city council

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway daily news Labour party confirms three candidates for city council
30/02/2019 Repro Free: Labour candidates for 2019 local elections, Liam Boyle, Niall McNelis and John McDonagh at City hall. Photo: Andrew Downes, Xposure

The Labour Party has confirmed three candidates who will be contesting seats on the city council in the upcoming local elections.

Current Mayor of Galway Niall McNelis will be defending his city council seat in the West Ward

Mayor McNelis said that May Day is important for the Labour movement “offering an opportunity to reflect on the long history of working people coming together to ensure a better, more equal, world for generations to come”.

John McDonagh is looking to succeed retiring councillor Billy Cameron in the Central Ward. He says that Galway is going through a period of intense growth, which brings “opportunities, but also challenges”.

“It is important that council takes an active role in planning for sustainable growth, ensuring the continued health of our communities.”

He added that he wants to use his experience working with community organisations to bridge the gap between them and the city council.

Liam Boyle, the Labour candidate for the East Ward, said the city needs quality, accessible facilities to make it a welcoming place.

“That starts with provision of social and affordable accommodation, and protections for the half of residents in my area who rent,” he added.

The three candidates nomination papers have been submitted at City Hall this morning, confirming that they will be on the ballot at the local elections taking place on May 24.

More than 300 homeless in Galway in March as numbers continue to climb

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway Daily news Homelessness increases

More than 300 people were homeless in Galway last month according to the latest figures.

The Department of Housing released a report saying that there were 309 homeless adults alone in Galway in March.

Across the west of Ireland there were 348 homeless adults, including 85 families living in emergency accommodation with 213 children.

These numbers represent a slight decline in homelessness among adults from 316 in February, but there are 12 more children without a proper home.

Nationwide homelessness numbers stayed above the threshold of 10,000 people with 6,484 homeless adults and 3,821 children.

The bulk of those were in Dublin, but the worst affected region outside of the capital was the South-West with 534 adults and 289 children in emergency accommodation.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy commented on the figures by saying that the government puts “considerable efforts in to prevent people from entering emergency accommodation, while also exiting as many families and individuals from homelessness as possible each month.”

Galway 2020 operations director resigns

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway daily news Call for further transparency on Galway 2020 finances

Galway 2020 is seeking a new Operations Director after the resignation of Damien Egan who had held the post.

Mr Egan was responsible for the day to day running of the Galway 2020 project with a broad spectrum of responsibilities.

He is returning to work in the corporate sector where he was employed for many years before joining the Capital of Culture Project.

In a statement Galway 2020 thanked Mr Egan for his work, and said only that he is going to work with one of Galway’s “newest multinational companies”

The organisation is advertising for a replacement for his role, with the deadline for applications on May 10.

This is the latest changing of the guard among senior management at the Capital of Culture Project which saw multiple resignations last year.

These frequent turnovers, along with funding issues, raised concerns about the future of Galway 2020 with the projected budget down from €47 million in the bid book to €39 million now.

There was welcome news earlier this week as the county council announced that it was committing an additional €2 million to the project, doubling the initial level of funding it provided.

CEO Patricia Philbin said that this additional funding would allow them to put on an “ambitious series of large-scale” projects under the guidance of Creative Director Helen Marriage.

She also expressed her hope that this would “encourage others to come forward and ensure a lasting legacy that will benefit Galway for many years to come”.

Hospital overcrowding at worst ever levels

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway Daily news 67 people on trolleys at UHG

Last month was the worst April recorded for hospital overcrowding according to new figures from the INMO.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said that last month there were 683 patients on trolleys at UHG, up from 576 in the same month in 2018 as hospital overcrowding reached record levels.

Nationwide, 10,229 people were in hospital with a proper bed last month, 8 percent more than in April last year and more than double the number from 2006 when records began.

Among those people, 106 children were forced to wait on trolleys in April.

The worst affected hospital last month was University Hospital Limerick with 1,206 patients on trolleys, followed by Cork University Hospital (826) and University Hospital Galway (683).

NMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said “This is the second month in 2019 where over 10,000 patients have been forced to wait without a bed.

“The crisis is without question worsening. Overcrowding hits two main groups directly: those who depend on public health services and those who work in them, providing the safest care they can in these conditions.”

“We started the trolley count over a decade ago because of unacceptable overcrowding. The problem has more than doubled since then.”

International conference on the future of artificial intelligence in Galway

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway Daily news NUIG conference on artificial intelligence

Galway will play host to the 2019 AtlanTec conference on the future of artificial intelligence and machine learning this month.

Now in its fifth year, the conference is a cornerstone of the AtlanTec Festival, with the title of this year’s conference being ‘The art of artificial intelligence and machine learning, new paradigm or false dawn?’

Over 400 business leaders, expert software developers, and technologists are expected to attend the day-long conference on a deep dive into new technologies and trends.

Dynamic keynote talks and panel discussions will feature futurist Denis Rivin, IBM expert Steve Tolle, medical innovator Catharine Bowman, Ally Watson from Code Like a Girl and Microsoft’s Gary Short.

Three afternoon parallel sessions will cover Artificial Intelligence (AI) Implementation, Tools and Techniques and the MedTech AI Revolution.

This annual conference is organised by the non-profit IT Association Galway (ITAG).

Caroline Cawley, CEO of ITAG, said, “Great minds are attracted by the AtlanTec conference’s growing popularity year on year, and by the region’s worldwide IT reputation.”

The conference will be the endnote to the AtlanTec Festival which kicked off in April.

Other events include, Design Thinking for Teens, Music Technology with the Swansea Laptop Orchestra, Tech Tag World Championships, the Digital Women’s Forum Afternoon Tea and a series of schools events for secondary school students and STEAM Inspiration.

Ireland is at the heart of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) in Europe, with eight of the top ten global software companies based here.

The industry employs over 37,000 people and generates €35 billion in exports annually.

This conference will take place on Thursday, May 30 at NUIG.

Public meeting on Irish Language Plan for Galway city

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway Daily news NUIG secures €15 million for library redevelopment

A public meeting will be held next week for the people of Galway to voice their opinion on a proposed Irish Language Plan for Galway city.

Last year, Dr John Walsh of NUIG’s Department of Irish and Dr Dorothy Ní Uigín of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge were chosen to head up the creation of an Irish Language Plan for the city for 2019 to 2026.

A steering group Group, Coiste Stiúrtha Pleanála Teanga Gaillimh was established to support, guide and oversee the progress and the delivery of the language plan, with members drawn from across the community.

This public consultation meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 7 at 7:30pm in rooms G010 & G011 of Hardiman Research Building, at NUIG.

In order to allow everyone to take part in the discussion regardless of their language background, two meetings will be held simultaneously, one in Irish and the other in English.

All are welcome to attend and more information is available at www.nuigalway.ie/gaeilgebheo.

Other public consultations on the proposed plan that have been in the works over the past months include an online survey conducted by Dr Walsh and Dr Ní Uigín.

It is intended that the city’s Irish Language Plan will be launched in the autumn.

Residential development of 80 homes in Newcastle approved

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway Daily news Plans for 80 homes in Newcastle approved

Plans for a residential development of 80 homes in Newcastle spread across two estates has been given the go ahead.

McHugh Property Holdings applied for planing permission for 68 homes in two separate scheme across Gaelcarrig Park and Carn Ard in Galway city but later increased that to 80 units.

The development will consist of 14 semi-detached and terraced houses, and 66 apartments.

The plans are for the homes to be split across two estates off the Letteragh road on a site that is currently vacant.

The bulk of the housing, 60 units, will be in Gaelcarrig Park, while the remainder will go into Carn Ard estate.

The plans had to be redesigned after the council said there were issues with the parking and amenity spaces in the application.

The number of parking spaces included in the design was also increased at the request of the council to 85 spaces.

A number of objections were made by local residents concerned about the increased traffic the development would bring to the area and potential damage from the excavation work.

One letter of objection signed by 28 people from Gaelcarrig Park was concerned about the high allocation of social housing included in the plans going into what is described as a “mature estate” with a largely older population.

It is feared by residents that there could be an increase in anti-social behaviour which has been eliminated from the area.

Also of concern was the height of the proposed three storey blocks, which it was feared will overshadow neighbouring houses.

Galway city council granted planning permission with a total of 24 conditions attached.

Before work begins the developer is required to make a contribution of €779,729 to the city council towards the cost of providing public services to this development.

An additional security deposit of €539,500 must be lodged with the council until the roads, footpaths, water infrastructure, open areas and other services have been completed and take in charge by a private management company.

Plastic pollution in our oceans even worse for the environment than believed

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway daily news Microplastic pollution in the oeans could be even worse for the environment than feared

The pollution of our oceans of oceans by marine litter and microplastics could be having an even worse affect on the environment than previously feared.

A new study led by marine scientists from the Ryan Institute at NUI Galway in collaboration with UCC and Villefranche sur Mer Laboratory has found that microplastic pollution may be having a serious impact on the systems in the ocean that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The NUIG research team looked at how microplastics affect small, jellyfish like creatures called Salps that play an important role in uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and its transport to the sea floor where it is stored.

The ocean is the single largest natural absorber of Carbon Dioxide emitted through the burning of fossil fuels, where it plays an important part in the marine ecosystem.

At the sea surface, microscopic algae turn dissolved CO2 into fuel (organic carbon). These algae are consumed by many different animals and form the basis of the marine foodweb.

However, as it passes through the food chain much of that carbon is respired and converted back into CO2 to be emitted into the atmosphere once again.

This is where Salps play an important role. They eat the algae on the sea surface and instead of re-emitting it they produce dense faecal pellets, which rapidly sink to the deep sea, carrying with them some of this captured carbon.

“Our oceans are estimated to have captured one quarter to one half of all human-derived carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the last two centuries,” said lead author of the study Alina Wiczorek from the Ryan Institute.

She added that the “downward transport of carbon by salps and other zooplankton animals accounts for a major portion of this.”

Laboratory experiments carried out at the Villefranche Ocean Observatory found that when salps ingest microplastics and incorporated them into their faecal pellets they did not sink as fast anymore.

According to Alina Wieczorek, as the faecel pellets stay near the surface for longer “they may get broken down causing the carbon dioxide to be re-released back into the ocean and atmosphere”.

This mean that microplastic pollution could be driving down the efficiency of one of the most crucial natural processes for absorbing carbon dioxide.

The research team also noted that even when the faeces does sink, it carries the microplastic with it doe the deep ocean, further spreading human pollution.

Recent findings of plastic pollution in the Marian Trench, the single deepest point in the ocean on earth, supports these fears.

Gardaí appeal for help in identifying body recovered from city docks

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway Daily news

Gardaí are appealing for the public for help in identifying a woman whose body was found at the docks area in Galway city.

The body was recovered from the water in the New Docks area on Sunday at around 9:30am.

The unidentified woman is believed to be in her 50s.

She is described as wearing a blue t-shirt with a red or wine coloured jacket, black leggings, and pink crocs.

Gardaí are asking anyone who might have information about this woman to contact Mill Street Garda Station at 091 538 000.

 

This interior design company is bringing dreams to life with 3D Visualisations

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway Daily business Local Interior Design company bringing visions to life with 3D visualisations

One local interior design company is leveraging new technologies to help people bring their vision of a home to life using 3D visualisations.

Architectural Designer and Quality Engineer Magda Walecka and Jacek Staniewski, the owners of Galway Interior Design, have launched an innovative 3D service that is presenting animated interiors and exteriors of buildings, bringing the vision in your mind to life.

“Visuals have become the most important medium to carry information. Static images reflect an idea and have proven to achieve better communication between designers and our clients,” explained Jacek.

He said that this technique is of huge benefit at many stages of the project. Not only do clients love to see what their home or business space will actually look like, but planners, trades people and builders also benefit from having a clear plan and visual in front of them.

Collaboration between Galway Interior Design and wmn architekci

They said they first came to realise home much time, money, and stress 3D animations can save on a project after designing and building their own passive house in Connemara.

We trailed the 3D visualizations on this entire process and really knew from here we needed to bring it into our business for our clients,” Magda said.

“While being in this process of designing and building our own home, it gave us a unique perspective of challenges that our clients might experience. We know that being a functional space, nature compatible, coming in within budget and on time are what our client’s needs.”

They believe that bringing new technologies into Galway Interior Design has helped clients explore their aesthetics and style, and design a space that’s comfortable for them.

To find out more, connect through Instagram and Facebook at Galway Interior Design or to gain an insight into their work check out www.galwayinteriordesign.ie/.

“We help people to define their needs and transform them into feasible design as we did when we built our own house,” Jacek said.

“We really like to focus on simple and useful spaces, nature-compatible designs which doesn’t go away with time but of course without imposing our own style.”

He concluded by saying that it’s important to them that projects are finished on time, and within the budget, which tends to go over well with clients.

Should Peter Casey’s wife be running instead of him?

By
Michael Malone
-
0
peter casey eu election candidate galway daily

A Galway European Election candidate has suggested Peter Casey’s wife should perhaps be running instead of him, following an interview on a local radio station during which he said his wife would be by his side in Brussels.

Midlands North West MEP candidate, Dr. Fidelma Healy Eames said that she has been approached by a number of constituents asking if Peter Casey’s nomination form also declared his wife as his first ‘replacement’ candidate.

This would mean that she would replace him should he be elected MEP and subsequently have to leave the European Parliament for any reason.

Mr. Casey has previously said he intends to stand for election in Donegal as a TD at the next Dáil election.

Dr. Fidelma Healy Eames commented: “In light of this, it is important that Mr. Casey comes clean with the people about his intentions in this regard.

“If he is successful, is it his intention to pass on any prospective Midlands North West MEP seat to his wife, should he be elected to the Dáil?”

In passing on the baton and if he is elected as a TD in Donegal, Peter Casey and his wife would have two salaries paid for by the taxpayer, although only one would have been elected.

The former Dragon has come under fire for his controversial comments about immigration and the Travelling community, but the businessman polled surprisingly high in the Presidential elections last year.

Fidelma Healy Eames added: “Given that he said his wife speaks French and would be by his side in Brussels, would he employ his wife in any potential MEP secretariat staffing arrangements?

“Is Peter Casey’s campaign all about money – for his family – rather than for the improvement of the Midlands North West constituency, a region whose status has been downgraded by the EU due to its depressed GDP per head of population?”

People urged to register to vote ahead of local elections

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway daily news

The people of Galway are being urged to make certain that they are registered to vote ahead of the upcoming local elections.

Local elections for Galway city and county councils, as well as European elections, will take place this May and the final deadline to register to vote is a week out.

Liam Boyle, the Labour candidate in Galway City East, said that many people might not be aware that they are even eligible to vote.

“Many residents, particularly non-nationals, are unaware that they are eligible to vote in the upcoming local elections.”

“All residents, whatever their citizenship, are eligible to vote in local elections, while citizens of any EU member state are also eligible to vote in the European Parliament election on the same day.”

In order to register to vote people need form RFA2, which is available from libraries, post offices, council offices, and Garda stations.

The completed form should be witnessed at a local Garda station, then sent to arrive at City or County Hall by May 7.

This will enable people to be added to the Supplementary Register of voters.

The form RFA2 can also be downloaded from the Galway City Council website (gaalwaycity.ie).

For those already on the register, but whose details are incorrect, form RFA1 can be used to correct their entry. Those who have moved address can use from RFA3.

“Local government is an important part of our democracy,” notes Boyle. “I urge all residents to ensure they are registered to vote, and to exercise their right on 24th May.”

Brexit won’t affect fees for Northern Irish and British students at NUIG

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway Daily news International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor

NUIG  today announced that students from Northern Ireland and Great Britain who enroll for postgraduate taught courses for the 2019/2020 academic year won’t see their fees go up no matter what happens with Brexit.

The university said that it was making this announcement to address student concerns about the uncertainty of Brexit and how it will affect their educational future.

UK students enrolling at NUIG for next year will also continue to be eligible for the Taught Masters Scholarship Scheme, a €1,500 scholarship open to EU students who get first class honours in a Level 8 undergraduate degree.

“As our University campuses span the west of Ireland and include the border region in Donegal, we are extremely mindful of the impact of Brexit on this island,” said NUI Galway Registrar and Deputy President, Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh.”

He added that NUIG is committed to ensuring its researchers and students have the tools they need to understand the issues arising from this “rupture” to the EU block.

“As an increasingly uncertain process continues, our Northern Irish and Great Britain students will at least have certainty on their educational status, and we look forward to supporting them in engaging with this new European landscape in the coming years.”

The Department of Education previously announced that undergraduate fees for UK and Northern Irish students will remain at EU levels next year after Brexit.

“We would encourage students both in the North and in Great Britain to look to NUI Galway to pursue the next stage of their education,” Pól Ó Dochartaigh added.

“For many Northerners in particular, who might currently be studying in Great Britain, this is the perfect opportunity to come back to Ireland for postgraduate study.”

Archive exhibition celebrates 120th anniversary of the first meeting of Galway County Council

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway daily news Galway County Council celebrates 120th anniversary with online exhibition

This year marks the 120th anniversary of the first meeting of Galway County Council, and that history is being explored with a new archival exhibition

The passing into law of the Local Government Act, 1898 established the County Council and city council, then called a Corporation.

It also gave many people in Ireland the right to vote for the first time, including women, allowing them to influence their local government for the first time in

Galway County Council’s first meeting was held on April 22, 1899 in Tuam, where the council pledged itself to the principals of Home Rule and urged the British government to act on granting Ireland “legislative independence”.

The council also called for a proper provision of Irish language education in national schools.

The Tuam Herald said at the time that the elected council was “a fair representation of property, profession and politics”.

“It contains a landlord, a Unionist Catholic barrister and writer, three solicitors, a college professor and medical doctor, three merchants, an auctioneer, and seventeen or eighteen tenant farmers.

“The 10 chairmen elected by the district councils and the nominated grand jurors with the co-opted men should make and will, we are sure, a very respectable body for Galway as good as any in Ireland we should be inclined to say”.

This anniversary is being celebrated with a new online archive exhibition Sowing a Seed: Archives to Art where the council invited local artists to collaborate with it to foster a sense of cultural identity, celebrate creativity, and to promote its archival collections.

The artists were challenged with bringing the specific archives ‘alive’, and to bridge a gap between the past and present in a contemporary innovative artistic manner, and to create a narrative connecting the piece, person or place identified in the archive to their new artwork.

An exhibition of their work was launched in Tuam Library last October 19, with an accompanying catalogue.

Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant playing Galway International Arts Festival this summer

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway Daily life & style Tickets for Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant's new band sold out

Former frontman of Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant and his new band Saving Graceare coming to play at Galway International Arts Festival this summer.

Best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Led Zeppelin, of one of the most enduring bands in rock history, Plant is regarded as one of the greatest vocalists of all time.

Saving Grace performed publicly for the first time earlier this year and since then, the band has performed for small audiences at theatres and festivals around the UK.

In keeping with their commitment to smaller, more intimate performances their show at GIAF will be at St Nicholas’ Church instead of at the Big Top alongside the other major names.

The five person band consists of Suzi Dian on vocal, Oli Jefferson with the percussion, Tony Kelsey on mandolin, baritone and acoustic guitars, Matt Worley playing banjo, acoustic and baritone guitars, and cuatro, and of course Plant himself also providing vocals.

With a sound that’s been described as bluesy and folk-inspired, Saving Grace packs a punch ranging ‘from a whisper to a scream’.

Special guests The 4 of Us will play as the supporting band. The rock band from County Down are best known for chart-topping albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s with songs like ‘Mary’ and ‘She Hits Me’.

This concert will take place on Thursday, July 18 for GIAF 2019, with tickets going on sale this Friday May 3 for €34.50. Ticket sales are limited to a maximum of 4 per person.

Musical acts already confirmed for the 2019 GIAF include Burt Bacharach, Macy Gray, ORBITAL, Villagers, John Grant, The Academic, The Coronas, Two Door Cinema Club and Bell X1 who will all play the Heineken Big Top.

The full festival line up will be announced on May 15.

County Council commits another €2 million to Galway 2020

By
Briain Kelly
-
0
Galway daily news Call for further transparency on Galway 2020 finances

Galway county council has doubled the amount of funding that it is providing to Galway 2020 with the commitment of an additional €2 million to the Capital of Culture project.

This brings to €4 million the total funding which the county council has committed to Galway 2020.

Patricia Philbin, CEO of Galway 2020 welcomed today’s announcement and thanked the county council for their support.

“Galway will be the cultural capital of Europe next year and it is our ambition to show Ireland, Europe and the World exactly what Galway has to offer.”

“We anticipate that this is just the first of many financial contributions to enable us to deliver this showcase,” she added.

“This ongoing support from Galway County Council is an expression of confidence that we hope will encourage others to come forward and ensure a lasting legacy that will benefit Galway for many years to come”.

During the bid process it was said that Galway 2020 was expecting to receive €6 million from the county council, the same figure as the city council.

But the county council said last year that at no point had it committed to providing that level of funding.

The Capital of Culture project has been dogged by consistent worries about finding sufficient funding for the artistic projects it has committed to, with particular concerns about the slow uptake of private sponsorship.

Galway city council has committed €6 million to the project, while the Department of Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht is providing an additional €15 million.

Work to secure roughly €7 million from the private sector through sponsorship and other arrangements are continuing.

Current projections put the final budget for Galway 2020 in the region of €39 million, less than the figure of €47 million in the bid book.

Roughly half of the events planned for next year’s Capital of Culture will take place out in the county, and the company has said that this additional funding will be used to deliver new large scale events in addition to the cultural programme already being delivered.

1...821822823...1,069Page 822 of 1,069