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Brothers of Charity granted approval for new special needs school

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Brothers of Charity granted approval for special needs school in Renmore

The Brothers of Charity have been granted approval for the constructions of a new special needs school in Renmore.

Planning permission was sought to build a new school as a replacement for the existing Rosedale school for children with special needs.

Planning documents state that the school will consist of a single storey building with a floor space of 3,640m².

It will contain 14 classrooms, specialist classrooms, therapy rooms, student dining areas, a medical suite and administrative facilities.

A general purpose hall, kitchen, and laundry facilities are also included to fully address the needs of the students.

The school will serve children aged 5 to 18 with “severe and profound learning disabilities” within the grounds of the Brothers of Charity’s Woodlands Centre in Renmore.

The existing Rosedale school will remain functional throughout the construction period, with students transferring over once it is completed.

An Appropriate Assessment Screening report prepared for this development declared that it would not impact on the Galway Bay Special Area of Conservation.

The Woodlands Centre campus is already home to a number of services run by the Brothers of Charity aside from Rosedale school.

The existing Rosedale school operates under a partnership between the Brothers of Charity and the Department of Education where each student has an ‘Individual Education Plan’ based on the abilities and learning objectives.

It’s not expected that this development will impact traffic in the area in any significant way as the majority of students at Rosedale arrive by specialised buses.

For that reason the plans include a drop off point which has room for eight mini-buses at any one time.

The school is designed to operated in two main sections, one for pre-school pupils and one for students up through secondary level which will be connected by common areas and shared facilities.

The building is designed in a U shape with a central, landscaped courtyard which provides a calm space for pupils.

A two metre high boundary wall will surround the new site as “The pupils of Rosedale are particularly vulnerable and it is essential to ensure that they are provided with a safe and secure environment”.

Other amenities to be included in the new school include a fenced play area and a sensory garden which will also play a role in the children’s education.

Galway city council granted planning permission with 14 conditions attached.

Over the Edge launches the debut poetry collection of west of Ireland writer Christine Valters Paintner

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily arts & culture Call to local writers for the Over the Edge Fiction Slam

The May Over the Edge writer’s gathering is presenting an exciting mix of poetry next month, including the launch of Benedictine Oblate Christine Valters Paintner’s debut poetry collection.

Christine Valters Paintner is the online Abbess of Abbey of the Arts, a virtual monastery and global, ecumenical community integrating contemplative practice and creative expression.

She is a Benedictine oblate living on the west coast of Ireland with her husband John. Together they lead pilgrimages and retreats in Ireland, Scotland, Germany, and Austria.

Christing has already written 12 books on pirituality, monastic wisdom, creativity, and the arts and has had poems published in in journals in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, and the UK.

This Over the Edge event will be the launch of her first collection of poetry Dreaming of Stones published by Paraclete Press, with guest speaker Dara Molloy.

There will also be readings by Patrick Chapman, Raine Geoghegan, Colm Keegan, and Anita Ouellette.

Patrick Chapman is a Dublin based writer who has published eight poetry collections since 1991, as well as a novel, three volumes of stories, and work in television, radio, and film.

Anita Ouellette is a poet living in Massachusetts. She was runner-up in the 2013 Over The Edge New Writer of the Year competition and is a regular participant in Kevin Higgins’ online poetry workshop.

She is currently on holiday in Ireland and will be dropping by to share some of her work.

Colm Keegan is another Dublin based poet whose most recent collection Randomer explores fatherhood, belonging, and family.

Described as “gut wrenchingly raw and beautiful” Randomer catapults Keegan into the anti-hero role of his own tales in a recreation of the Dublin that shaped him.

Raine Geoghegan is a poet and prose writer of Romany, Irish and Welsh descent living in the UK.

She is a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net 2018 nominee. Her recent pamphlet Apple Water: Povel Panni was launched in December 2018.

The event will take place at The Kitchen, Galway city Museum on Friday, May 10 at  8pm. All are welcome. There is no cover charge.

New video highlights largely hidden form of abuse in Irish society

By
Michael Malone
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galway daily aib video abuse
ATM machine at night. Blank white screen for text.; Shutterstock ID 1132487648; Purchase Order: -

A new video highlighting the nature of a largely hidden form of abuse in Ireland has been unveiled today.

The ‘Abusive Teller Machine’, a collaboration between AIB and Women’s Ai, brings to life how financial abuse manifests across daily interactions in abusive relationships.

According to Women’s Aid, financial abuse is a form of domestic violence in which the abuser uses money as a means of controlling their partner.

By controlling a person’s access to financial resources, the abuser ensures that they will be forced to choose between staying in an abusive relationship or facing extreme poverty.

Filmed in AIB’s The Lab in Dundrum Shopping Centre earlier this month, the ‘Abusive Teller Machine’, a specially created ATM, was programmed with the kind of controlling questions all too common in financially abusive relationships.

As customers attempted to access their money the questions became increasingly intrusive and intimidating before the customer was ultimately denied their money and the reason for their experience revealed.

Women’s Aid is a leading national organisation that has been working in Ireland to stop domestic violence against women and children since 1974.

As a large financial institution in Ireland, AIB wants to ensure that even the most at risk of its customers are cared for and is collaborating with Women’s Aid to address the lack of awareness around domestic financial abuse.

Speaking on the collaboration, Women’s Aid Director Margaret Martin was keen to highlight the prevalence of financial abuse throughout Irish society.

“Earlier this month, we published our annual impact report which highlighted the level of contacts that we have received in the last 12 months; of the 19,000 contacts, there were over 1500 disclosures of financial abuse from all backgrounds and regions of the country.  We know this is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said.

The collaboration will see Women’s Aid and AIB work on heightening awareness around financial abuse, with AIB providing training for staff on supporting and referring women who may be affected by financial abuse.

Full information on financial abuse is available at www.womensaid.ie and if you, or someone you know are affected by financial abuse, please contact the Women’s Aid national freephone helpline at 1800 341 900, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

25 years cycling the Corrib in aid of Croí Galway

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily sport 25 years cycling the Corrib in aid of Croí

Croi Galway is celebrating a quarter century of cyclists supporting their cause at the 25th Annual Tour de Lough Corrib cycle this summer.

Registration is  now open for the biggest charity cycle in the West of Ireland to raise money to fight stroke and heart disease with Croí.

It’s incredible that this year we are celebrating the 25th cycle, and we have so many long-time cyclists that have been with us from the beginning,” says Christine Flanagan, Fundraising Director.

“It’s a fun cycle along a great route, and all abilities are welcome to join us. Every euro raised helps our team to continue our work here at Croí, leading the fight against heart disease and stroke in the West of Ireland.”

Cyclists will have a choice of a 45km, 80km or a 120km routes starting from the sports pavilion in Dangan and will take the route via Headford, Cong, Maam Valley, Oughterard, back to Galway, finishing at Croí House.

Roadside assistance, support vehicles and plenty of refreshment stops will be provided on the day, along with a post-cycle celebration event.

Enter as an individual cyclist or get a team together, with group photographs happening at Croí House after the event.

The cycle will take place on on Sunday, June 9 in association with long-time sponsor Corrib Oil, the cycle’s main sponsor for 25 years running.

Registration is free and essential at www.croi.ie/cycle, and cyclists are asked to fundraise for Croí. All cyclists will receive a technical t-shirt.

Cyclists that reach a fundraising goal of €150+ will receive a specially designed 25th anniversary cycle jersey and entered into a raffle to win a fantastic bike package to the value of €1,000

Repairs to city water mains causing traffic disruptions this week

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Briain Kelly
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Galway city news Water outages in Salthill due to burst mains today

Repairs to aging water mains in Galway city will cause traffic disruptions in Shantalla over this week.

Traffic in the westside is being affected by mains rehabilitation works Irish Water are carrying out on the network in Shantalla from today until Friday, May 3.

Work will take place from 9am to 4pm each day. Residents of Shantalla and the surrounding neighbourhoods may experience water outages.

A traffic management plan will be in place each day while work is taking place.

Residents who lose their water during the day are advised it may take 2 – 3 hours after work finishes before the full supply is restored.

Further updates on the situation will be available through Irish Water’s Supply and Service page, or people affected can call 1850 278278.

Wedding planners The Knot Worldwide creating 100 jobs in Galway

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily business Galway based company Planet creating 100 jobs in Ireland

The Knot Worldwide, the world’s largest wedding planning company, has announced that it will be creating 100 jobs in Galway city with the establishment of an operations centre here.

Over the past four decades The Knot Worldwide has helped over 40 million couples in 15 countries around the world to plan the wedding that’s right for them with its brands The Knot, WeddingWire and Bodas..

It specialises in providing couples with registry services, wedding planning tools, and access to over 700,000 local vendors with 7 million global reviews.

On top of the new jobs being created over the next few years, local retailers and brands will benefit from enhanced advertising and marketing reach to appeal to a larger audience.

Galway TD and Minister for the Gaeltacht Seán Kyne is making the official announcement of the new jobs at the Portershed this morning.

Speaking ahead of the event Minister Kyne said the decision of such a prominent global brand to locate here in Galway is “a further endorsement for Galway as a prime location in the areas of marketing, advertising and analytics.”

He also thanked the IDA, which is supporting this project, and the Portershed for helping to bring so much foreign investment into Galway.

The new roles will include content writers, community forum support and customer support staff. For more information on these roles, go to: https://www.theknotww.com/careers/#job-opening.

Jessica Finnefrock, Executive Vice President of Global Business Operations for The Knot Worldwide said the company was “thrilled” to expand its global footprint with an office in Galway.

“We’ve been extremely impressed with the talent from this city, are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the IDA and the city of Galway,” she said.

Ms Finnefrock added that they are “Excited for the invaluable work this team will do to help our local wedding business professionals better connect with couples and ultimately grow their businesses.”

The Knot Worldwide also includes wedding brands The Knot, WeddingWire and Bodas.net, as well as lifestyle brands The Bump for pregnancy and parenting, GigMasters for bringing important celebrations to life with entertainment vendors, Lasting for building healthy and happy marriages, How They Asked for proposal inspiration and stories and more.

Local groups awarded €10,000 for National Community Weekend events

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Dozens of Galway City community groups awarded €272,708 in grant funding

Local sports groups, residents associations, and others have been awarded grants totaling €10,000 to put on events for the first ever Big Hello!, the National Community Weekend.

In total 18 projects received funding from the Galway City Local Community Development Committee for the Big Hello! which is taking place on the May Bank Holiday weekend.

“The Big Hello! is a chance for people to foster a sense of helping each other by coming together, not just on that day, but all year round,” a statement from the LCDC said.

“It’s the chance for everyone to get know all members of their community, to reconnect with neighbours and have a celebration together that is open, inclusive and local.”

The projects which were chosen for this weekend “celebrate the great spirit of community that exists across the city” and “help people who share communities to come together” according to the LCDC.

The full list of groups which received funding for this event is:

  • Galway Community Circus – €588
  • Moyola Park Residents Group – €150
  • Merlin Residents Association – €800
  • Gleann Na Rí Residents Association – €380
  • Merlin Woods Sports Club – €500
  • Coogan Park Residents Association – €600
  • Galway African Diaspora – €500
  • Westside Community Garden Group – €490
  • The Melting Pot Luck – €780
  • Galway Centre for Independent Living – €749
  • Sudanese Community Galway – €500
  • Ballinfoile Castlegar Neighbourhood Centre – €523
  • Galway City East Community Games – €300
  • Pernet CLG – €500
  • Corrach Bui Residence – €200
  • Shantalla Residents Association – €970
  • Third Space Galway – €200
  • Cammillaun Park Neighbourhood Association – €300

A grant of €970 was also approved to support the Street Feast initiative, which has moved their national day to coincide with the May weekend events according to the city council.

This initiative is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and administered by Galway City LCDC.

Full details on the events planned by each of the groups for the May Ban Holiday weekend can be found on the city council’s facebook page.

Galwegians stand in solidarity with victims of Sri Lanka Easter attacks

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news vigil in solidarity with Sri Lanka attack victims

A vigil was held in Eyre Square yesterday where the people of Galway showed their solidarity with the victims of the horrific terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka over Easter weekend.

Over 250 people were killed in Sri Lanka in a series of terrorists bombings targeting hotels and churches on Easter Sunday claimed by the Islamic State.

Three churches and three hotels were bombed in quick succession on the Sunday morning, horrifying the nation and the world.

A week on, people gathered for a vigil in Eyre Square in a remembrance ceremony where members of the Sri Lankan community called for solidarity with those who are suffering.

photo credit: Darachphotgraphy

The vigil was organised by Ravindra Vidyarathne and local activists and candidate for Galway city council Joe Loughnane.

A book of condolence was open for people attending to sign in sympathy with the many people who lost their lives and the families that are still coming to grips with their loss.

photo credit: Darachphotgraphy

 

photos: Darach Glennon/Darachphotography

GMIT launches €60 million five year strategic plan

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Free GMIT food entrepreneurship course course returns

GMIT has unveiled a five year strategic plan that will guide it as it makes the shift to become a Technical University.

The 2019 – 2023 strategic plan contains thirteen areas where GMIT can develop as a university, five of which will be the focus for the initial period: Digital Learning; Programmes with an applied focus; Employability and Professional Practice; Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, Infrastructure and Facilities.

The plan is underpinned by a €60 million capital investment, the majority of which is already in place with the Department of Education and Higher Education Authority working to secure the remainder over the lifetime of the plan.

Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor formally launched the plan this week at an event attended by Mayor of Galway, Cllr Niall McNelis, Dr Michael Hannon, deputising President of GMIT, Cormac MacDonncha, Chair of the Governing Body along with other members of staff and the student body and colleagues from the Connacht-Ulster Alliance.

Minister O’Connell said that the plan will give GMIT students “a transformative university experience”.

“GMIT invests in excellent applied learning, teaching and research environments, reflecting the real needs of business, enterprise and the professions in the region.”

She added that with well recognised excellence in research, innovation, and enterprise, students can “stand shoulder to shoulder with any of their peers on any international stage.”

GMIT will be designated as a technical university under its new partnership with fellow Connacht Ulster Alliance members IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT.

It’s projected that student enrollment at the new Technical University will reach 18,000 – 20,000 people.

Dr Michael Hannon, Deputising President of GMIT said that they place a strong focus on helping students grow within the community, both personally and professionally, and find what they can bring to that community.

Canney launches rural crime initiative

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Sean Canney launches new rural crime initiative

Galway East TD Seán Canney has unveiled a new initiative meant to try and help farmers and others victimised by rural crime.

Homeowners, farmers, and businesses can engrave their property with their unique seven digit Eircode in a bid to help gardaí track stolen property back to its rightful owner.

The initiative is being rolled out by Property Marking Ireland, a not-for-profit company that works with local communities and organises public events where people can get their property marked.

Deputy Canney lanuched this rural crime initiative at Airfield Estate in Dublin recently alongside Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment Richard Bruton and Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan.

“I would encourage Community Alert Groups and Joint Policing Committees to come together to use the PMI markings,” Seán Canney said.

Anyone interested can contact their local authorities, while more information can be found at https://propertymarking.ie .

Clarinbridge event on life after a brain injury

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Chronic pain treatment SFI prize

A brain injury can have a massive impact on a person’s life with effects that make their presence felt long after the fact.

Clarinbridge Nursing home are holding an event on “Life Beyond Brain Injury” about what people can do to reclaim their lives after such an injury, and the services that are there to help.

Brain injuries can result from many causes including strokes, road traffic accidents, falls, farm and sports accidents and the need for rehabilitation is the reality in the aftermath of these life changing events.

At this event speakers from the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dublin will go through the recovery process from a brain injury and the need for step-down services that fall in between a hospital stay and being sent home.

Clarenbridge Nursing Home’s Rehabilitation Unit provides important ‘Step-Down’ services for people awaiting a place in the NRH.

Instead of staying in an acute bed in a hospital, they can avail of occupational therapy and physiotherapy with the onsite team.

This is covered by ‘fair deal scheme’ for people who have suffered ABI – acquired brain injuries.
Clarenbridge Nursing Home is part of the Windmill Nursing Group owned by Pat Kennedy and Denis McElligott.

The event will include video presentations compiled recently of residents who have benefitted rehabilitation at NRH and current users of the step-down services in the rehabilitation unit at Clarenbridge Nursing Home.

Kuala Connolly, Director of Nursing at the Home said they were delighted to host the panel from the NRH.

“We have no doubt that this will provide important insights to both family, friends and medical professionals on the rehabilitation journey for patients with acquired brain injuries”

“At our facility we want to give patients the best opportunity to achieve their goals and lead fulfilling lives inspite of their brain injury,” she added.

The Clarinbridge unit specialises in the rehabilitation of acquired brain injury and spinal injury and has its own innovative and dynamic multi-disciplinary team providing a ‘step-down’ service to patients over 18 years and allowing them and their families to begin their journey.

This event is taking place on Friday, May 3 from noon to 2pm at Clarinbridge Nursing Home.

Admission to the ‘Life Beyond Brain Injury’ talk is free, however, pre-registration is recommended. Please log on to Eventbrite to book a place or telephone Nuala on 091 777700 Or email don.clarenbridge@windmillgroup.ie.

Plans submitted for €3.5 million Parkmore industrial development

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Planning appeal over 91 houses & apartments in Athenry

Plans have been submitted to Galway county council for a €3.5 million production facility at Parkmore West Business and Technology Park.

Parkmore Land Investments Limited is seeking planning permission for a production facility with ancillary offices, staff facilities, external plant and gas storage areas, and a secure delivery yard.

The production facility includes a production line and a laboratory for research and development.

The total floor space of the proposed industrial facility is 4,133m².

If this development is allowed to proceed, Parkmore Land Investments say it has the potential to employ 207 people.

The parking requirement for a project of this scale is 205 spaces under the county development plan guidelines, but this application proposes 118 car parking spaces.

The reason for this according to the developer is the proximity of a high frequency 401 and 409 bus services nearby and an estimate of 157 vehicles coming to the site daily.

For people coming to the facility by bicycle, the plans currently with the council also include 42 bicycle spaces.

The site for the proposed office and production facility is currently an undeveloped plot of land at Parkmore Business Park.

If planning permission is granted, it’s currently estimated that this project will take 16 – 18 months to complete.

Submissions about this project can be made until May 7 to Galway county council, which is due to make a decision on this planning application by May 28.

Internation expert on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis delivering talk on misunderstood condition

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news People in Galway urged to know their healthcare options for Bank Holiday

International expert on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Dr Ros Vallings is giving a talk in Galway on the often misunderstood condition next month.

Around 14,000 people in Ireland are thought to suffer from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), now often diagnosed under the name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Symptoms include overwhelming flu-like exhaustion made worse by exertion (physical or mental exertion), muscle and joint pains, sore throats, swollen glands, disturbed sleep, impaired concentration & memory, dizziness and headaches.

A particular feature of the disease is that the condition waxes and wanes over time and symptoms can fluctuate a great deal from day to day, or even within a day.

ME is a condition that can destroy people’s lives depending on the seriousness of their condition.

Though often misunderstood and dismissed, people suffering from ME are left unable to live normal lives due to the level of debilitation.

Dr Vallings has run a medical practice in Auckland, New Zealand since 1966 and has been specialising in treating patients with ME/CFS for over 35, in which time he has published three books on the topic.

He is also medical adviser to the ANZMES, the national organisation supporting those with CFS/ME, and served as the group’s president for many years.

As part of an international committee has helped develop guidelines for the treatment of ME/CFS.

This talk at the Connacht Hotel on May 21 hosted by the Irish ME/CFS Association will address “Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Symptoms Diagnosis and Management” followed by a Q&A session.

Vera Kindlon, Chairperson of the Irish ME/CFS Association, said there is still a great deal of work to be done raising awareness of this condition and educating people about it.

“While things have improved in the last decade, many people still experience a considerable delay in obtaining a firm diagnosis.”

“Having a name for what is wrong with them allows patients to better manage their condition. They can also then get in touch with other sufferers, learning how others have dealt with similar problems and gaining support and empathy from those who know exactly what it is like.”

Orla Ni Chomhrai, host of the Galway meeting, said they were delighted to have Dr Vallings come and share his expertise with interested people.

“It is good for patients and the families to be get the opportunity to hear a talk by a recognised expert in the condition.”

“It also affords them the rare opportunity to ask questions of a doctor who has focused on ME/CFS in her practice for the past few decades.”

 Orla added that meeting like these are a good way for people like with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis to meet other people in the same place to help support one another.

The talk will take place at 7:30pm on May 21 at the Connacht Hotel. Further details are available from the Association: 01-2350965, info@irishmecfs.org orwww.irishmecfs.org.

Galway escapes Storm Hannah damage as thousands without power in the south

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Storm Isha: Over 6,000 properties without power in Galway this morning

Galway was fortunate to be spared much serious damage from Storm Hannah last night as tens of thousands are still without electricity, primarily in Munster.

Storm Hannah swept through Ireland yesterday, with the weather station at Mace Head recording gusts of 122km/hr as heavy winds battered the west and south.

There are currently only two small power outages in Galway affecting a grand total of 25 homes, though earlier this morning there were several hundred without electricity with a larger outage in Gort from last night.

The ESB is working to restore power to more than 10,000 homes affected by the Storm Hannah across the south of Ireland.

Motorists out driving today are advised by AA Roadwatch to be on the lookout for wind strewn debris on secondary routes.

Met Eireann are forecasting that the weather will start of mostly dry on Saturday, with scattered heavy showers dying off towards the end of the day and sunny spells.

Northwesterly winds will stay sharp in the early afternoon, dying down into the evening. Highest temperatures today of 9°c to 12°c.

Things will be cloudy on Sunday, with patchy showers but plenty of dry weather as well and sunny intervals in the afternoon.

Two status red weather warnings were issued for Storm Hannah to counties Clare and Kerry which remain some of the hardest hit areas of the country this morning.

Social Democrats Member Owen Hanley sets his sights on Galway City East

By
Paul Kelly
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GalwayDaily news Galway Daily spoke to Social Democrats candidate for Galway City East Owen Hanley

This week it was Owen Hanley who spoke to Galway Daily about his upcoming local election campaign for the Galway City East ward.

The Social Democrats member holds a Masters in Human Rights Law and has been active on the political scene in Galway for a number of years.

In the past, the activist has campaigned for gender equality, increasing third level funding, LGBT rights and the re-election of Michael D Higgins.

In keeping with the theme of all the of other local candidates Galway Daily has interviewed thus far, Owen Hanley was quick to discuss housing as a crucial priority for his campaign.

Housing

Hanley immediately tore into the government describing the housing crisis as a ‘collaborative failure’ of both the city council and government.

He promised to staunchly campaign for an increase in social and affordable housing if elected.

He doubled down on this by vowing to prevent the selloff of public housing.

Hanley wants to see more cooperative housing in Galway and promised to encourage and promote this alternative model. This provides an alternative to renting or buying a home and is seen in other European Countries.

It is controlled by a number of people who become shareholders in the corporation that owns the property. This results in there being no landlord.

Hanley claims this alternative model can reduce overhead costs and go some way to dampen down the housing crisis.

Unfortunately, to Hanley’s dismay the government have been hesitant to adapt and promote this different approach to housing.

The activist outlined the rampant problem of land hoarding currently plaguing Galway City.

In listing examples such as The Corrib Great Southern, He referred to the large-scale dereliction engulfing Galway while emphasizing it’s negative impact on the city and community.

Hanley stated that the City Council has fallen short in tackling the issue of land hoarding even though it has the powers to combat this under the Derelict Sites Act.

The Social Democrats member declared his intention to push for culturally appropriate traveller accommodation if elected to the Council.

Transport

Hanley decried the ongoing traffic crisis in Galway stating that ‘single passenger travel has brought the city to a standstill’. He referenced the fact that the average commuter spends an hour a day in traffic.

The NUIG graduate argued that the planned Galway ring road would not effectively solve the traffic problem.

The activist acknowledged the need for a bypass but the proposed ring road was to large in scale. To add to this he stated the ring road would result in a 38% increase of emissions.

When it comes to easing the traffic situation in Galway, Owen Hanley promised to fight for alternative means of travel to be promoted and provided for.

This includes the increased provision of cycling lanes around the city along with their strict enforcement.

He vowed to push for the amount allocated towards cycling in the City Council budget to be doubled.

Along with the promotion of cycling in the City, the activist was adamant that public transport laid at the core of fixing Galway’s congestion issues.

Hanley suggested solutions such as more peak bus times and a fully integrated bus system.

He noted that reliability needs to be of central importance when it comes to promoting and improving public transport in Galway.

The first time candidate reaffirmed the support the Social Democrats have for Bus Rapid Transit.

Owen Hanley welcomed the opportunity that Galway 2020 will bring to trial run free public transport around the city.

Environment

The young candidate labeled the environment as being one of his ‘great passions’.

If elected, he claimed he would waste no time and his first motion would be to declare a climate emergency.

To add to this he expressed his intention to advocate for the abolition of the use of pesticides.

Hanley stressed the importance of lobbying for Galway to become a partner in the All Ireland Pollinator Plan which is a scheme to address pollinator decline and protect pollination service.

The Galway native described the necessity of seeing park wardens in green spaces around the city acting as a permanent maintenance crew.

Hanley stated that the transition to a low carbon society must be a fair one. It must tackle Ireland’s failures while taking into account income inequality.

In addition, there needs to be good opportunities for people in carbon heavy occupations to transfer into carbon neutral occupations.

Planning

The activist criticized the historic poor planning of Galway City which has resulted in a city riddled with outdated industrial estates.

Owen Hanley described the effectiveness of dealing with local planning at council level since it was one of local government’s greatest powers.

If elected, Hanley intends to campaign for industrial estates around the city to be retrofit into mixed use spaces near the city centre.

Mixed use spaces are areas which blend residential and commercial facilities together.  

Hanley claimed Mervue Crown site offers tremendous potential to become a mixed use space.

The young candidate emphasized the need for a shift to a village type model where people live, work and play.

Reform

Owen Hanley spoke of the urgent need of reform to Galway City Council.

He pointed out that council meetings were too long, contained too little substance and need to be ran more efficiently.

The activist suggested live streaming Council meetings and making council voting records more easily available to improve transparency.

In addition to all this, Hanley expressed his wish for the mayor to be democratically elected.

Social Issues

Owen Hanley spoke of the ‘massive strides we have made towards social progress’ with elation to Galway Daily.

He referenced the recent referendum to repeal the 8th Amendment and the 2015 Marriage Equality referendum.

Hanley, a member of the LGBT community was ecstatic to see the dedication and activism of young people during the two campaigns.

While overjoyed at the results of the above referendums, Hanley stressed that further progress must be made in areas such as direct provision.

In describing direct provision as an ‘immense system of suffering’ he affirmed to Galway Daily that he sought it’s complete abolition.

The activist also expressed his disappointment at the lack of funding for the Teach Solais LGBT resource centre in Galway.

Owen Hanley rounded off by describing his deep frustration that mental health remains unaddressed in society.

This is particularly the case when it comes to men, younger people and members of the travelling community.

All in all Owen Hanley is setting his sights on Galway City East to be a voice for young people.

He urges all those voters who plan on transferring to transfer to other left/centre left candidates to give the left a stronger voice in the chamber.

Galway Clean Up weekend gets underway tomorrow

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news major Galway city Clean Up gets underway this weekend

The people of Galway city are being asked to come out and help get their neighbourhood clean up to eat off over the Clean Up weekend this Saturday and Sunday.

Galway city council are organising the Clean Up Weekend to get the city in shape for the Best Kept Towns competition this May where Galway has been nominated for Best Large Urban Centre

The city council will be providing supervised skips at four spots throughout Saturday and Sunday: Westside Community Centre, Leisureland, Ballybane Resource Centre, and South Park (City Centre).

The skips will be there for people to drop off the litter they collect from 9am to 3:30pm each day with council staff handing out bags, gloves, pickers and making sure no illegal dumping takes place.

Two road sweepers will also be roaming until 1:30pm and two pickups will out from 1pm to 5pm to collect any surplus garbage.

As part of this campaign businesses are also being asked to tidy up one metre in front of their own premises and to remove graffiti.

Ireland’s Best Kept towns Competition is an all-island initiative organised jointly by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Northern Ireland Amenity Council.

Galway has been nominated for this year after its performance in the 2018 SuperValu Tidy Towns Competition, in which the city received a silver award.

The council are also holding a prize Draw to encourage people to get involved where you have a chance of winning a €100 One4All voucher.

To take part just take before and after photos of the area that you clean up and submit them to www.galwaycity.ie/bestkepttown.

Galway players won €570,000 from Prize Bonds in 2018

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

Galway residents are among the luckiest holders of Prize Bonds, having won almost €570,000 in prizes last year.

This is according to the Prize Bond Company DAC, which said that 8,851 prizes coming to €569,950 were handed out to people in Galway holding Prize Bonds in 2018.

Prize Bonds are an Ireland State Savings product that allows bondholders to be entered into weekly draws with a top prize of €50,000.

An additional €1 million is up for grabs on the last draw of June and December, while other prizes in the weekly draw go to the value of €1,000, €500 and €50.

The programme is administered on behalf of the National Treasury Management Agency by the Prize Bond Company DAC which recently published its 2018 Annual Report.

According to the report the bonds continue to grow in popularity with an almost 8.0% increase in the overall value of the fund to over €3.4 billion last year, the highest in the 61-year history of the scheme.

The number of overall prizes awarded last year dipped by a quarter to 224,474, down from 302,064 in 2017.

The total value of prizes handed out in 2018 also declined by just under €5 million to €16.4m.

Since the launch of a new website last year roughly 8% of sales are now done online, while just over half still take place at the Post Office.

Customers are investing with confidence in this unique State Savings product,” said John Daly, Chairman of the Prize Bond Company, “and that is reflected in the figures released today.”

“Our new website has made repeat purchases online convenient for retail investment customers who are increasingly looking for digital platforms to view and manage their investments with State Savings.”

He added that “Being able to service Prize Bonds customers’ needs across a variety of channels, including the Post Office network, remains a key focus for the company in the year ahead”.

Founded in 1957, the Prize Bonds draw is Ireland’s longest running prize draw. The unit price of a Prize Bond is €6.25 with a minimum purchase of four units, at a total cost of €25.

Overuse of cholesterol medication statins worth millions each year

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news NUIG study finds Ireland overusing cholesterol medication statins

A recent study at NUI Galway found that the cholesterol lowering medication Statins are highly overused in Ireland, with tens of millions in associated costs each year.

Statins are cholesterol lowering drugs that are used to prevent cardiovascular disease, either prescribed to people who already have established cardiovascular disease, those who have had a heart attack or stroke, or preventively to those without a history of cardiovascular disease.

They are widely prescribed and command a large share of drug expenditure in Ireland. In 2016 they ranked as fifth in terms of highest expenditure under the medical card scheme and the second most prescribed type of medicine on the scheme.

But a new study from researchers at NUIG published in the British Medical Journal highlights that changes in clinical guidelines for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (people with no prior history) have led to a massive increase in the number of people being given statins.

In Ireland, the number of people over 50 with no history of cardiovascular disease who could be considered eligible for statins went up from 8% in 1987 to 61% in 2016.

The associated costs rose from €14 million a year to €107 million over the same period.

Researchers involved in this study said that there is very little evidence to support the use of this cholesterol lowering drug for primary prevention, arguing that it is “very resource intensive and arguably unsustainable”.

Lead author of the studies, Paula Byrne from the J.E Cairnes School of Business and Economics said that this is an issue which impacts “large proportions of our population and healthcare budgets.”

“Decisions to take and reimburse statins should be considered on the basis of cost-effectiveness and acceptability to some low-risk patients.”

“One would have to question whether some patients, who may achieve very small reductions in risk of cardiovascular disease by taking statins, would agree to take this medication were they fully informed.”

Before being prescribed a statin, it is recommended that a person’s baseline risk of cardiovascular disease is estimated. This can be determined by GP’s using risk calculators.

If a person’s risk is estimated above a certain threshold, statin therapy may be recommended.

The authors of this study said that the results of statins’ trials showed that in most risk categories there was considerable uncertainty as to whether the drugs would actually benefit the patient.

In 1987, 40 of the people in the lowest risk category would have had to be treated to prevent one cardiovascular event and by 2016, 400 people would have to be treated for the same impact it is claimed.

Paula Byrne finished by saying that as a society we need to ask “whether or not statin use in such people represents value for money in the health sector.”

Ambitious plan for World’s biggest street performance of The Fields of Athenry

By
Michael Malone
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galway daily fields of athenry

Plans are underway to create a spectacular video of a massive street performance of the Fields of Athenry.

Kamil Films, who created the viral video of 15,000 people singing Galway Girl in 2016, are planning to recreate this in Athenry on 6 May with arguably the nation’s favourite song.

Over the years, the song has become a cultural and sporting anthem, being sung by thousands of  passionate Irish rugby and football supporters at matches in Dublin and abroad, as well by Celtic fans in the terraces at Parkhead.

Guests including Amazing Apples, Matt Cunningham and Galway Rose Deirdre O’Sullivan are confirmed for the day.

To add to the spectacle, the world’s largest tin whistle ensemble is also organised for the day.

The project has received great support from sports clubs and schools, and people from across Galway are invited to join in the fun and express their connection to this song in their own way.

Storm Hannah weather alert upgraded to Status Orange

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Road closures and serious power outages are affecting the seafront area of Galway City this afternoon due to damage from Storm Fergus.

The weather alert for Galway has been upgraded to Status Orange ahead of Storm Hannah making landfall today.

Met Eireann issued a yellow weather alert for Galway yesterday along with the rest of Connacht and most of Ireland, warning of Storm Hannah bringing high winds on Friday night and into early Saturday.

Galway’s weather warning was raised to status orange by Met Eireann at 10am this morning.

Winds of 65-80km/hr are expected from 7pm this evening, with gusts reaching speeds of up to 130km/hr.

Clare, Cork, Limerick, Kerry, Waterford, and Tipperary have also been issued with an orange warning as the bulk of the damage from Storm Hannah is forecast to hit the south and west coast.

While the orange alert in Galway expires at midnight tonight, a yellow weather warning will remain in place until 9am on Saturday.

Galway city council are urging people to exercise caution this evening, especially if they are out near exposed coasts.

Council road crews will be on standby tonight to deal with any flooding caused by the storm.

Storm Hannah looks forecast to mark the end of the brief spell of sun that came to Galway, as rain is expected to linger throughout the weekend until next Tuesday at least.

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