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Easter Street Feast Draws thousands to the westend

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Galway Daily life & style thousands turn out to enjoy a street feast in the sun

The Easter Street Feast was a massive hit with crowds who came out to enjoy some food and music in the sun this week.

Over 2,500 people came to the Westend Street Feast in Ravens Terrace on Monday to sample the wares of some of Galway’s best restaurants and food producers.

Hot cross buns from Massimo

The street was closed off to traffic during the festival, with people filling benches and tables set out to have a meal or a snack next to the canal.

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A gramophone installation from sculptor Donnacha Cahill played live music alongside a showing of Galway’s street performers as people sampled the delights of Dela Restaurant, Gourmet Tart, and Handsome Burger.

There was plenty of selection to be had as stalls as doled out more food from Hooked on Henry Street, Salthouse , Massimo Bar, Monroes, BoTown, Avo Nice Day and Marcos Crisps, Fresh Juices from the Galway Markey, Danny Doughnuts and Merci Beaucoup Pastries.

Daisy Bowl Florists were on hand to provide insider knowledge on all things flowers and potted plants, and face painters were there for the kids enjoying this family day out.

Galway’s Westend teamed up with Walsh Waste to make this a biodegradable and compostable festival, using eco packaging and take away materials.

The westend Street Feast returned early this year due to popular demand and to catch some of that April sun. It will return this summer with the next street feast on June 3.

National broadband plan delays accused of leaving the west behind

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Galway Daily news Work underway to deliver fibre broadband for 2,500 homes in East Galway

Continuing delays to implementing the National Broadband Plan have come under fire for leaving the west of Ireland behind.

Galway East TD Anne Rabbitte said that people in the west have been “waiting with anticipation” since November when the Minister for Communications indicated he would be bringing forward the broadband plans, “Yet, five months later we are facing another delay”.

The National Broadband Plan, first announced in 2012, has gone through numerous delays and changes over the past seven years.

This month An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed that €3 billion will be spent on the plan, spread out over 25 years.

With this longer timeline, the Department of Communications has raised its goal from 30Mbps speeds to 150Mbps at the 540,000 homes and businesses the plan aims to bring high speed internet to.

But people are becoming frustrated with years passing and no internet of any speed being delivered, Anne Rabbitte said.

“In the West we are some of the worst affected areas with little to no provision of high-speed broadband,” she said, adding that the Minister and his goals are “Dublin centric”.

Deputy Rabbitte added that it’s not just a matter for homeowners but also has a serious effect on the business community.

“Numerous SMEs too have been in contact to raise their concerns and the fact that they want to expand but can’t because they don’t have the adequate access to broadband.”

Galway Roscommon TD Eugene Murphy also said that there are severe broadband “black spots” in the region.

These “severely hamper students, businesses, and the basics such as internet browsing or simply watching Netflix.”

We have a situation in which people are driving to bigger towns to avail of free public Wi-Fi to complete basic tasks. In 2019 this is simply not good enough,” concluded Deputy Murphy.

Anne Rabbitte suggested that it is time to start examining what EU funding might be accessed to start funding improvements to critical internet infrastructure.

US clothing company creating 150 jobs at Galway tech hub

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Galway Daily business US fashion company creating 150 jobs at Galway tech hub

Rent the Runway, a US based fashion company, has announced that it will be creating 150 jobs in Galway at a new tech hub.

The company created an Irish subsidiary in January and will be creating 150 jobs over the next three years as it hire engineers and developers for software development.

The Galway based dev team will be working on software unique to Rent the Runway as well as working with their US counterparts to support its desktop and mobile platforms.

Currently the company is working out of space at the Portershed, but it has plans to move to a more permanent home later this summer at the newly-renovated Piscatorial School building in the Claddagh.

Headquartered in New York, Rent the Runway is trying to disrupt the older business model of the fashion industry by letting people rent designer outfits rather than buy them outright.

Since being established in 2009 by Jennifer Hyman and Jenny Fleiss, the company has grown to a valuation of €1 billion.

“We are thrilled to open our first-ever international office in Galway, where we’ve had overwhelming support from the Irish Government and the IDA,” said Josh Builder, CTO of Rent the Runway.

“From the start, it was clear that Galway was the perfect location for our new office. The city has an atmosphere of creativity, mirrors Rent the Runway’s cultural values, and excitingly, will be the European Capital of Culture in 2020.”

IDA CEO Martin Shanahan said that Galway was an excellent choice for RTR to locate their new jobs “With its vibrant and growing technology ecosystem”.

“It is also an endorsement of the confidence tech companies have in finding the right talent in the West,” he added.

“Rent the Runway will be a key reference seller for us in attracting further tech and consumer brand activity”

The privately owned company has five physical locations in the US, 11 million members, and 1,800 employees, 93% of whom are female, multiracial and/or minority.

The company’s technology team is 45% female, and 80% of leaders at the company are women.

Martin Shanahan said “This project from Rent the Runway is very much in line with IDA Ireland’s strategic objective to attract increased levels of investments to regional locations and the 150 jobs being created will be of substantial benefit to the economy of the city and West region.”

Major revamp in the works for Athenry GAA club

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Galway Daily sport Planning refused again for Oughterard sports facilities

St. Mary’s GAA club of Athenry are working on a major revamp with new pitches and other facilities.

Planning permission is being sought for two grass pitches, an astroturf pitch, ballwall, and walking path at the Athenry GAA club.

The land for these new facilities is a mixture of existing club grounds and adjacent agriculturally zoned land.

Submissions to the county council concerning this development can be made up until May 1.

A final decision is due from the council by May 22 on whether to grant planning permission.

Loughrea Supervalu plans to soak up the sun

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Galway Daily news Planning permission sought for south Galway solar farm

Supervalu in Loughrea intends to take advantage of the good weather with plans to install rooftop solar panels.

Planning permission is being sought for 192.09kWp solar panels on the roof of Loughrea Shopping Centre to provide power for Supervalu.

The supermarket said that installation is for the purposes of “generating on-site green electricity to reduce the applicant’s energy consumption”.

UK based Kingspan Energy Limited have been consulted by Supervalu about installing the photovaltic solar panels.

Galway county council is due to make a decision on this next week by May 2.

INTO annual conference gets underway in Galway today

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Galway Daily news INTO annual conference underway in Galway

Galway is playing hosting to the annual conference of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation this week at the Galmont Hotel.

The INTO conference is being attended roughly 850 delegates who represent 43,000 primary school teachers from the across the Republic and Northern Ireland.

Pay restoration, industrial relations, a shortage of teachers and school conditions are some of the items that look to dominate the agenda over the next three days.

The conference will also play host to guest from around the world “representing the global trade union movement.” from Monday through to Wednesday.

INTO President Joe Killeen opened proceeding by saying that the union would fight for equal pay for new members through negotiation, court challenge, or strike action.

Mr Kileen also said that schools are facing a crisis in funding, and called for class sizes to be restored to 2009 levels.

Minister for Education Joe McHugh will address the conference, announcing ahead of time the creation of new substitute teachers panels in Galway and elsewhere to address concerns of shortages.

The three day event at the Galmont Hotel will close on Wednesday evening.

Water network repairs to cause supply disruptions in the city and county

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

Repairs to Galway’s water network will cause supply disruptions at multiple spots around the city and county this week.

The largest set of works being done to the water network is mains rehabilitation works taking place in Shantalla throughout the week.

Work will be taking place from 9am – 4pm from Tuesday to Friday, with water disruptions expected during the day while repairs are being made.

A traffic management plan will be in place during work hours each day.

Irish Water is also carrying out leak reduction works in Salthill on Wednesday, April 24 from 10am until 6pm.

These may cause water outages to businesses and residents of Dun Na Carraige, Blackrock, and Salthill.

Out in the county leak repair works will be taking place in Clarinbridge on Wednesday.

One set of works is taking place in the Hillpark area, and the second repairs team will be at The Parklands from 10am to 6pm.

Finally repairs crews will also be working on the water network in Tuam from 7am to midday on Wednesday.

Leak reduction works are being carried out in the Dublin road area and may cause water disruptions.

In each of these cases people in the area who experience a water outage are advised it may take 2-3 hours after repairs are completed for the water supply to be fully restored.

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

Plans lodged for 51 apartments in Doughiska

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Galway Daily news

Plans have been lodged for a residential development of 51 apartments and 2 houses across Doughiska and Merlin Park.

JLH Property Holding Company are seeking planning permission 51 one, two, and three bedroom apartments and 2 one bedroom townhouses across six blocks ranging from one to four storeys tall.

The four taller blocks, a mix of three and four storeys high, will be located along the boundary with the Dublin and Coast roads, while the smaller blocks will be at the north end facing residential sites.

The majority of three bed apartments included in the plans will be located on the ground floor of the larger blocks, with rear gardens.

“This is both congenial to family living and leaves potential for these units to be extended in the future if there ever might be a requirement.”

The main entrance and exit to the development would be off the old coast road to Oranmore.

Cyclists will also benefit from the greenway link through the site connecting to the coast road once it is constructed, one of several planned greenway routes linking Oranmore and Galway city centre.

The proposed site is also adjacent to the Dublin Bus Corridor, and the developer says that residents will have easy access to the 404 and 409 routes.

For cars, planning documents state that this development will include 50 carparking spaces, as well as space for at least 35 bicycles.

Galway city council is due to make a decision on this planning application by May 26.

Substitute teachers to be hired full-time amid teacher shortage

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Galway Daily news Almost 1,000 Ukrainian pupils enrolled in Galway schools

A number of substitute teachers will be hired on full-time to tackle a shortage of educators in classrooms here in Galway.

Minister for Education Joe McHugh today announced the creation of a substitute teachers panel in Galway in a new initiative targeting schools experiencing a shortage of teachers.

Galway is one of six areas being targeted by this pilot scheme along with North and South Dublin, Cork, Kildare and Meath.

Each panel will hire two or three teachers on full-time. Each teacher will be based in one school and rotate between 15 or so others across urban and rural areas as needed.

The six areas included in this pilot scheme were chosen for the particular difficulties they’ve had in sourcing substitute teachers in recent years.

“The creation of substitute teacher supply panels is a direct response to staffing difficulties I’ve heard about from teachers, principals and management bodies,” Joe McHugh said.

He compared the new scheme to the clustering initiative that allows primary schools to work together and share teachers across certain subjects.

“We are now asking principals and management to put the best foot forward to make these new substitute panels work.”

“Primary schools are being asked to collaborate and work together in clusters in each of the six areas. And I urge them to see this as an effective solution.”

The panels will begin operating in the school year 2019/2020 and will run for one year on a pilot basis.

The Department of Education has said that the details of the scheme are being finalised, and it will shortly be in contact with schools in the area about participating.

Local enterprise office celebrates hundreds of jobs created on 5th anniversary

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Galway Daily news Local Enterprise Office marks hundreds of jobs created on fifth anniversary

Galway’s Local Enterprise Office is marking its fifth anniversary this year, having helped businesses and entrepreneurs create hundreds of jobs.

Since first being set up in 2014, the Galway LEO has created 470 jobs at supported companies across the city and county.

In total, 31 LEOs around Ireland have created 18,600 jobs since first being established, and have dispensed €81.5 million in grants to businesses.

The five year figures were released recently by Minster for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys.

“Since their inception in 2014, the Local Enterprise Offices have played a hugely significant role in generating indigenous employment across the country,” Minister Humphreys said.

“There are now over 36,000 people employed by LEO-supported companies, small Irish businesses that are creating jobs in their own towns and villages.”

She added that supporting regional economies was the driving principle behind allocating an additional €5 million in funding to LEOs in 2019.

In the past five years, 40,577 people have received mentoring support through the LEO network, while over 17,500 have taken a Start Your Own Business course.

Under the new budget, the government has said that it plans to expand the range of supports that LEOs can offer to domestic entrepreneurs under the Future Jobs Ireland 2019 plan.

“Our entrepreneurs are central to ensuring balanced regional development into the future, and I have no doubt the LEOs will continue the success of the past five years in the next five and beyond,” said Minister Humphreys.

LEOs offer a comprehensive range of supports from mentoring and training to financial assistance and Brexit planning, to entrepreneurs and small businesses alike to help them to plan, start and grow.

The Local Enterprise Offices also run some significant programmes to increase engagement and draw entrepreneurs and small businesses into the business support eco-system.

These include Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE), the National Enterprise Awards, Food Academy, the Student Enterprise Programme and Local Enterprise Week.

Minister for Jobs Pat Breen said that small businesses are the “heartbeat of the Irish economy” and are crucial to local economies.

He added that Local Enterprise Offices have become the most important resource for budding entrepreneurs who are looking for a helping hand.

Breakdown causes heavy traffic on the Lough Atalia road

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Galway daily news Traffic lights at UHG out of action until next week

A breakdown is causing heavy traffic on the Lough Atalia road this afternoon.

Outbound city traffic has been badly disrupted by a breakdown at the College road junction on the Lough Atalia road.

Gardaí are on the scene directing traffic according to AA roadwatch, with long delays on approach.

Young girl killed and boy seriously injured in Ballinasloe collision

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Galway daily news

A young girl has been killed and young boy seriously injured after a road traffic collision.

The 9 year old girl was out cycling with the 7 year old boy near Ballinasloe when they were in a fatal collision with a car.

The incident took place on the R358 Ballinasloe to Ahascragh road at around 11:55am on East Sunday.

The two children were taken to Portiuncula Hospital where the girl was pronounced dead.

The young boy remains in a serious condition in hospital.

Gardaí have closed the road to allow a forensic examination to take place.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information to contact Ballinasloe Garda station at 090 963 1890.

Rising childcare costs draw warnings

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Galway Daily news Over €75,000 awarded to 11 Galway youth services

Rising costs of childcare which have been predicted are drawing warnings that many families will find it harder to stay in full time employment while looking after children.

The Cost of Doing Business 2019 report from the Department of Business and Enterprise shows that the net cost of childcare in Ireland is 28% of the average wage, more than twice the EU average of 12%.

The report also warned that rising labour costs carry a significant risk that childcare costs will also rise in line with them.

Galway East TD Anne Rabbitte said that with costs as high as they are already, families cannot afford any significant increase.

“I would urge the government to listen to the National Competitiveness Council’s report this morning,” Deputy Rabbitte said.

“Without action for families, soaring childcare costs will leave many families with no alternative but for one parent to stay at home or rely on wider family or grandparents for child minding”.

The report also measured the pace of cost increases with overall inflation and the growth of other services prices and found them rising in line.

The highest measured cost of childcare in Europe contained in the report was in Switzerland, while Sweden had the least expensive.

Oranmore business going green with hundreds of rooftop solar panels

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Galway Daily news perovskite solar panels

An Oranmore business is outfitting its facilities with hundreds of rooftop solar panels to improve their energy conservation.

Coen Steel have received planing permission to install 320 mono-crystalline solar panels on the roof of their facilities at Deerpark Industrial Estate in Oranmore.

The solar panel will be orientated east-west across two pitches of the commercial premises’ roof.

The Health and Safety Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland both made submissions to the county council asking that this development be carried out in line with regulations protecting motorists.

The county council asked the developer to submit a glint and glare assessment out of concern for the impact these solar panels could have on motorists travelling along the nearby N18 and R446.

This assessment found that “no view of the proposed development is possible from the observer points identified”, so motorists could no be bothered by glare.

Galway county council granted planning approval with four conditions attached.

The high tech supports for people with dementia and memory loss

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Galway daily news Day services in Loughrea remain in limbo

The Memory Technology Resource Room at St Brendan’s Community Nursing Unit in Loughrea has been praised for its “groundbreaking” work with people suffering from dementia or memory loss.

Galway East TD Seán Canney applauded the work that healthcare staff are doing to support people with dementia or memory loss at a recent visit to the Nursing Unit.

He added that these rooms are a “tremendous resource” also present in Tuam and Merlin Park hospital.

“They provide a vital function in showing people with memory issues, and their families, what technologies are available to help alleviate and improve their condition.”

“People may not be aware of the many options they have that can help them either live independently or have a better quality of life.”

A Memory Technology Resource Room comes with a range of high tech solutions such as Remote monitoring systems, sensors that detect a fall; stand alone aids such as electronic calendars, medication reminders, talking clocks and watches, night lights with sensors and voice recorders; and low tech solutions such as door signs.

But the assistance goes beyond just the technology as resource workers use things like photo albums, memory boxes, and easy to use phones to stimulate the memory and improve quality of life.

Anyone interested in using the service needs to make an appointment for an occupational therapist or other healthcare worker to meet them at the room, where they will be shown a range of products designed to help with memory loss.

“Memory Technology Resource Rooms offer both practical help in terms of suggestions but also comfort for people and their families who may be coming to terms with a developing condition.”

“Essentially they realise there are supports out there and they are not alone,” Sean Canney added.

The service was set up following the launch of the National Dementia Strategy in 2014 and it is free to everyone over 18 with dementia or memory difficulties.

Conference on public involvement in medical research

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Galway Daily news Four Galway-based healthcare projects awarded over €19 million

A conference on Public and Patient involvement involvement in medical research will take place at NUIG in the coming weeks.

There have been shifts in Irish medical research lately, with more and more patients involvement in determining exactly what should be researched, how it should be carried out, and helping communicate the results.

PPI involves an active partnership between members of the public, patients, researchers and doctors to ensure that the voice of the public or patient influences all stages of the research process.

Conference attendees will hear about PPI from various different perspectives, including people living with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Type 1 Diabetes; the parent’s perspective; the patient’s voice in healthcare; and the use of health data for research.

The conference is jointly hosted by the HRB Primary Care Clinical Trials Network Ireland and PPI Ignite @ NUI Galway.

The HRB Primary Care Clinical Trials Network Ireland is a collaborative group of researchers conducting clinical trials through general practice and primary care.

Professor Andrew Murphy, Director of  HRB Primary Care Clinical Trials Network Ireland, said “The public and patient voice needs to be listened to and heard, in order to ensure that our research is effective and meaningful for patients.”

This type of partnership takes advantage of the first hand experience that patients have with their conditions which researchers can take advantage of.

Prof Seán Dinneen, Consultant Endocrinologist at NUI Galway and UHG said PPI Ignite is about providing support and training to researchers to build partnerships to direct research.

Presenters will attend from the UK, Denmark and the US, including Professor Carolyn Jenkins (Medical University of South Carolina) and Derek Stewart (OBE).

Derek is a patient advocate from the UK who will be speaking about “Sustaining PPI – getting the balance right” and what he considers to be the key elements of a successful partnership working from a patient’s perspective and challenging the notion of the “usual suspects”.

Dr Avril Kennan, CEO, Medical Research Charities Group will deliver a workshop titled “Should researchers be trusted with your health data?” – where attendees will share how they would like to see their health data managed.

This conference will take place on May 1 from 10am-4pm at the Institute for Lifecourse and Society (ILAS), North Campus, NUI Galway.

Registration beforehand is essential and for more information, visit: www.primarycaretrials.ie or email info@primarycaretrials.ie, or contact Dr Nikita Burke, Development Manager with HRB Primary Care Clinical Trials Network, NUI Galway on 091 495308.

Reopening Athenry to Claremorris rail line would be ‘guaranteed to lose money’

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claremorris athenry railway galway daily

Economist Colm McCarthy has said that reopening the rail line from Athenry to Claremorris would be ‘guaranteed to lose money’.

McCarthy argued in an article for the Irish Farmers Journal that ‘there is insufficient potential traffic – passenger or freight’, and that ‘rail freight in Ireland peaked about 40 years ago and has collapsed to negligible volumes’.

Minister Ciaran Cannon echoed the economists arguments, saying that were the line to reopen, it would result in the ‘crazy situation’ whereby it would have to be closed for the second time in its history.

The Galway East TD said: “From the outset of the debate on the dubious merits of reopening the rail line from Athenry to Claremorris, I have consistently pointed out the fiscal irresponsibility of such a move.

Minister Cannon added: “Any move… to reopen the rail line would be tantamount to shovelling taxpayer’s money into a bottomless pit and we would be faced with the crazy situation that, having invested so heavily in it, we would eventually be forced to close the line for the second time in its history, making it a major economic fiasco.

“In this context alone, the Quiet Man Greenway is clearly the only sensible project to support.”

Big demand for the construction graduates at GMIT Jobs Fair

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

There was a huge demand for qualified graduates across all sectors of the construction industry at a recent GMIT Jobs Fair.

Over 20 employers from Ireland and the UK came to the careers fair looking for “Architects, Architectural Technicians, Civil Engineers, Site Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Project Managers, and all positions throughout the wider Construction industry.”

That’s according to GMIT lecturer Shane Newel who said that The Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index showed a surge in jobs growth in March to meet growing demand in the industry.

“Because of the shortage of graduates, the starting salaries and employment conditions for graduates have increased significantly to try to attract skilled professionals,” Mr Newell explains.

GMIT offers Ordinary Degree (Level 7) and Honours Degree (Level 8) programmes in Architectural Technology, Civil Engineering, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying.

Final years students from the Department of Building & Civil Engineering in GMIT attended the recent Jobs Fair and spoke to the employers about future employment positions.

Shane Newell said that The ‘Engineering 2019 report published by Engineers Ireland last month shows that the supply of civil and building engineers must dramatically increase to meet future needs.

“Almost all (94%) engineering employers surveyed however consider a shortage of experienced engineers to be a barrier to growth – and almost half expect this situation to get worse in 2019,” adds Mr Newell.

“Civil and building engineers are most in demand with 59% of organisations surveyed looking to hire engineers in this discipline.”

Brendan Murray releases fantastic debut solo single

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brendan murray galway daily

X Factor star Brendan Murray has released his eagerly awaited debut solo single “If I’m honest” ahead of his first tour of Ireland and Britain.

The Tuam singers’s tour kicks off on 21 June in Newcastle and finshes in Galway on 30 June.

Brendan started his career in the music industry at just sixteen with Louis Walsh’s boyband HomeTown, and the past six years have been a whirlwind for the 22-year-old singer.

He represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 held in Kyiv before his father, Frank, applied for the X Factor on his behalf .

Brendan entered Series 15 of The X Factor where he progressed to the live shows and was mentored by One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson.

He secured a spot in the semi-final of the series, finishing in 5th place.

Having completed the X Factor arena tour in February 2019 Brendan is now determined to forge a successful career and launching his own music is paramount.

Brendan said: “The X Factor has given me an amazing platform and I don’t want to waste this. I love music and I love singing but my goal is to have sell out concerts singing my own songs.

To have my own tour is so exciting and I can’t wait for my fans to hear my music.”

 

Galway 2020 jumping onto the European stage with new collaborations

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Galway daily news Call for further transparency on Galway 2020 finances

Galway 2020 is looking to build new partnerships with its fellow Capitals of Culture across Europe through cross border collaboration.

Tandem Culture Capitals is a new project from Galway 2020 seeking cultural professionals and their organisations from seven European Capitals of Culture (former or future) to build relations between local organisations.

“Building international networks and enabling local cultural organisations to work on a European level is an important part of the programme”.

The decision to create this new partnership comes after a successful European Capital of Culture Network meeting in Galway last week.

The call is open to experienced creative professionals and their organisations based in Galway City or County.

Other eligible regions include; Leeuwarden-Fryslân 2018, Rijeka 2020, Eleusis 2021, Novi Sad 2021, Kaunas 2022 and Veszprém 2023.

Tandem is a series of practical collaboration and internationalisation programmes that lets projects partners explore their ideas and develop their skills on a European stage.

It aims to build networks of creative professionals, cultural managers and their organisations and it supports the impact they make on their cities, regions, and Europe as a whole.

For more information go to the Tandem website. Applications must be submitted by April 26, and successful applicants will be announced by May 6.