Traffic lights at Briarhill junction out after crash

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April 13, 2019

Galway Daily life & style Games of Throne at An Pucan

Game of Thrones fans are counting down the hours until the final season comes to our screens, and the team at An Púcán

The award winning pub will be holding the door open for fans each Monday night at 9pm for a showing of the latest Game of Thrones on the big screen.

Fans will get the chance to sit the Iron Throne themselves at An Púcán provided they can best all the other claimants to the throne.

The season premiere playing at An Pucán this Monday, April 14 will be doubly special, as the night will also act as a fundraiser for local charity ACT For Meningitis.

ACT for Meningitis was founded up in 2011 by Siobhan and Noel Carroll following the tragic loss of their daughter Aoibhe to meningitis when she was just four years old.

They set up the group in July 2011 to raise awareness, promote education, and provide support to those affected by meningitis in Ireland, so that no family would have to suffer as they did.

A lot of their work goes into tackling confusion and misconceptions around meningitis, and their Community Support Officer Emer McDonagh works with families in 21 counties to help link them with the supports they need.

On the night there is a “Cosplay contest” where patrons who a dressed up as a Game of Thrones character will be in with a chance of winning €1000 worth of prizes.

sponsored by the Connacht Hospitality Group

Galway to bask in sunshine with summer temperatures this week

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April 13, 2019

After a cold and wet start to this week, it will become warm and sunny in the lead up to Easter Weekend, according to early forecasts.

Temperatures will reach the mid to high teens by Wednesday and Thursday, and Friday and Saturday look set to be even warmer, reaching 18 or 19 degrees in the West.

Before this heatwave though, we will have some miserable weather tomorrow (Sunday) and Monday.

Met Eireann say tomorrow will be cold and wet, especially during the morning, with heavy possibly thundery rain at times and local spot flooding.

Further rain is forecast for the afternoon, but with a few drier periods. Tomorrow will be windy and blustery at first, but the southeast winds will moderate a little later in the day.

Afternoon temperatures will be between 6 to 9 C tomorrow, and Monday will also be windy and wet, which will make the warmer weather later in the week even more welcome.

One week left for local festivals and summer schools to apply for €5k grants

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April 13, 2019

local festival ireland galway daily — Irish Folk Session, "The Old Dubliner Harburg", 12/2012

Galway groups have been urged to apply to the funding scheme for local festivals and summer schools in the coming week.

Grants are available for small local festivities and summer schools for amounts between €1,000 and €5,000.

The closing date for applications is on Friday 19 April.

The total fund for the scheme is €75,000 but the scheme won’t fund capital projects sporting events, community and family fun days, food festivals, profit-making events or tidy town events.

It is also not open to events already in receipt of other Government monies or large scale event funding from bodies like Fáilte Ireland and the Arts Council.

Minister Ciaran Cannon said: “I’m delighted to see that the Fleadh na gCuach/Cuckoo Fleadh is scheduled to take place in Kinvara from 3 – 6 May which is celebrating its 25 year.

“This is another opportunity to celebrate traditional music in South Galway and with local festivals in mind, I wish to remind organisers of small festivals in the county that the funding scheme for these events closes next Friday for this round.”

Clifden B&B gets the go ahead for wine bar and restaurant

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April 13, 2019

Galway daily news Clifden B&B gets approval for wine bar/restaurant

A Clifden B&B is stepping up its food game by introducing wine bar and restaurant to its premises.

The Arch B&B on market street in Clifden has been granted planning approval for renovations that will convert its existing dining space into a wine bar and restaurant.

The Arch is located right in the heart of Clifden along the Wild Atlantic Way.

The bed and breakfast currently serves continental and full-Irish breakfasts, and is now upgrading its dining options with a full evening restaurant service.

Work in this conversion will involves alterations to the internal structure and layout of the B&B, and well as external works.

Galway county council granted planning permission with six conditions attached.

NUIG launches new partnership with Galway International Arts Festival

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April 13, 2019

Galway Daily news NUIG launches new partnership with Galway International Arts Festival

NUI Galway has launched a new partnership programme with the Galway International Arts Festival.

The university and arts festival announced this week the creation of a new MA in Creative Arts: Producing and Curation, with applications now open and the first classes commencing in autumn 2019.

The course will teach students about elements of production that that are true across all fields of the arts, putting in place the practical steps needed to turn an artistic vision into a realised project for an audience.

As curating an experience, assembling and delivering the artistic experience for an audience. 

John Crumlish, CEO, Galway International Arts Festival said they are excited to be part of this initiative “which will play such an important role in delivering the next generation of cultural producers and curators.”

“If Ireland is to compete with the best in this arena, courses such as this will be invaluable in helping create the individuals capable of delivering excellence at both a national and international level.”

Over the course of this MA students will work with members of the Galway Arts Festival team and take part in SELECTED, the Festival’s professional development programme for emerging artists.

The programme will be directed by Dr Charlotte McIvor, Head of Drama and Theatre Studies at NUIG.

She said  that the new course will teach students a diverse set of skills across the two practices.

“We aim to produce graduates capable of engaging with the shifting and complex demands of the creative arts industries in Ireland and beyond.

“To work in this area, you need to have a creative arts knowledge base that is diverse, interdisciplinary and ultimately practical – perspectives this programme emphasizes in the modules and experiences that are part of the degree.”

To coincide with the course announcement, GIAF has announced its first theatre show of the 2019 programme, Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love songs) based on John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera.

Following their triumphant GIAF debut in 2017 with Tristan & Yseult, the celebrated UK theatre company Kneehigh is back with another theatrical tour-de-force which will play at NUIG this July.

Apple Athenry data centre saga comes to end

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April 13, 2019

Galway Daily news Apple granted extension of permission for Athenry data centre

The long running story of Apple’s once planned €850 million data centre in Athenry has come to a conclusion as the Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal against the decision to grant planning permission.

Two local residents had appealed against the manner in which An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the first phase of the data centre.

After previously losing at the High Court, Sinead Fitzpatrick and Allan Daly appealed to the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case.

The Irish Times reports that the five judge panel has unanimously dismissed the appeal, and added that no matters of law would need to be referred to the Court of Justice of the EU.

Apple announced that it was no longer pursuing plans for the data centre just before this was first due the Supreme Court.

The court still agreed to hear the case, with the state applying to be joined to the case in support of the board’s decision, because it could have an impact on how the board grants permission for future data centre projects.

The core issue of the appellants case was whether An Bord Pleanála carried out the appropriate environmental assessment for granting approval.

The appellants claimed that an bord pleanala should have had to consider the environmental impact of the entire 8 data hall master plan, not just the simhle data hall included in this phase 1 planning application.

Exciting two-day festival to take place in Gort

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April 9, 2019

An exciting two-day festival is set to take place in Gort next month which will create economic opportunities for the town and district, according to Minister Ciaran Cannon.

The Galway East TD also welcomed Thoor Ballylee opening again to visitors from Saturday, 20 April and he said he has no doubt that the various cultural events that take place between then and October will meet with great success.

Minister Cannon commented: “Thoor Ballylee is an essential heritage experience for visitors to South Galway and so I’m delighted that Burren Lowlands CLG in partnership with ICOMOS Ireland, Galway 2020 and Galway County Council have announced a two-day festival that will be held in Gort from the 17^th – 18^th May, 2019 and which will tie in with local heritage.

‘This community gathering is the result of consultations and public meetings which have explored viable development opportunities to support the continued development of Gort town and district.

“Pivotal focal points have included the development of a River Walk, access to and amenities in the public realm, architectural heritage and delivering a festival for the town.”

Minister Cannon added: “Gort is a place with many assets and a very active community and I have every confidence that this gathering, building on a rich local heritage, will help create further economic opportunities for the town and district”

Financial services firm doubling Galway workforce

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April 9, 2019

Galway Daily business Financial services form doubling Galway workforce

The financial services firm PwC is doubling its workforce in Galway by creating 35 new jobs over the next two years.

The expansion is part of an ambitious growth strategy that includes the financial services company moving its headquarters and workforce in Galway to state-of-the-art city centre premises at One Galway Central.

Ken Johnson, Senior Partner and Assurance Leader at PwC Galway said that this is a “strategic relocation” that reflects strong growth in the west.

“We see significant opportunities for PwC to support indigenous and FDI businesses as they exploit this growth potential.”

He added that a recent survey of Irish CEOs they carried out show that business leaders are cautiously optimistic about the future and are planing for growth.

“The new office, which gives us the capacity to double our team here in Galway to over 70 people in the next eighteen months to two years, provides a key platform for the delivery of our growth strategy for the West and our ability to support our clients in the Region as they deliver on their growth plans.”

“Our expansion also gives graduates the opportunity to work and live locally while having the benefits of developing a successful career in a global organisation.”

PwC is a multinational financial services firm providing assurance, advisory and tax services in 158 countries and employs a quarter of a million people worldwide.

Launching the new office former Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that Galway and the west are an important part of Ireland’s continued growth.

“With a highly talented skills’ pool, we can see this new investment right here in Galway with multinationals, including medtech, and technology companies as well as SMEs, establishing in the region. It is great to see organisations such as PwC helping drive this success.”

Older people urged to make use of Senior Alert Scheme

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April 9, 2019

Galway daily news Day services in Loughrea remain in limbo

Older people in Galway are being urged to consider making use of the Senior Alert Scheme which provides a wearable, monitored alarm for personal safety.

The Senior Alert Scheme is meant to allow older people to have peace of mind in their own home by having a monitor alarm pendant or bracelet which is wirelessly connected to a broadcast unit like your phone home and monitored for alerts.

Galway East TD Seán Canney has said that older people in Galway should consider making use of the scheme, which is was launched by his Department for Rural and Community Development in November 2017.

Deputy Canney said that people who don’t have a landline may also be able use a SIM card with the system.

“Providing they check with their supplier first, using a SIM card costs €5 a month which could mean a saving on line rental costs.”

“It also may be possible to use the Telephone Support Allowance offered by the Department of Social Protection to help pay for the SIM card if people meet the criteria for that benefit.”

There are currently 41 community, voluntary, and non-profit groups in Galway alone which are registered with Pobal to provide equipment for the SAS.

The full list of organisations in Galway that will help someone get set up with the Senior Alert Scheme can be found on pobal.ie.

In 2018 roughly 19,200 applications were made to the Senior Alert Scheme, with an approved expenditure of €7 million.

Two Galway students compete for title of Ireland’s best young problem solver

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April 9, 2019

galway students national final galway daily

Galway students Sorcha Ní Choncarraige and Oisín Dilger competed for the title of ‘Ireland’s top young problem solver’ at the national final of the ADAPT Centre’s All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad recently.

The students, who hail from Coláiste an Eachréidh, will find out the results of the competition soon.

From a starting line-up of 4,000 students, the top 100 linguistic problem solvers tested their minds with complex puzzles in unfamiliar languages at the national final which took place at DCU.

The winners will continue on to the international final in Korea later this year.

Settled weather to continue with higher temperatures than Madrid forecast

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April 9, 2019

Galway Daily weather Sunny spells bookened by showers this weekend

Dry, settled conditions will continue until this weekend with temperatures remaining in the mid-teens for most of the week.

Met Eireann says that clearer, mainly dry conditions will extend gradually from the north throughout this afternoon with the cloud clearing for brighter spells.

While a few scattered showers are possible, temperatures will be higher in Galway than in the Spanish capital today and tomorrow, reaching 15 degrees in places.

After a cold, dry night, tomorrow (Wednesday) will be mainly dry and bright, with sunny intervals throughout the day. Tempreatures could reach 14 to 15 degrees again, with light brezzes.

Thursday and Friday will see little change, with Friday being the sunnier of the two days and as for the weekend, Saturday should remain dry but there is a chance of showers on Sunday.

Women in Politics: NUIG to host panel discussion tonight

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Paul Kelly

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April 9, 2019

Tonight, women from across the political spectrum will gather in NUI Galway to discuss the core issues concerning female participation in the political arena.

Among other things, the key focus will be on why each of the speakers got into politics, what it’s like as a woman in the political sphere and why they would encourage other women to become involved in politics.

A similar event took place in November organised by the NUI Galway Young Fine Gael Society. Those present included elected Fine Gael TD Hildegarde Naughton.

Tonight’s event is being organised by both the NUIG Sinn Féin Society and the Feminist Society. It will contain activists and representatives from Sinn Féin, The Green Party, Renua and an Independent Councillor.

The event is due to take place at 7pm and is to last for roughly two hours. The discussion will take place in Room G011 in NUIG library.

The Seven speakers confirmed to be at the panel tonight are listed below.

Sharon Nolan – Social Democrats (Galway City Central Local Election Candidate)

Mairéad Farrell – Sinn Féin (Elected Galway City Councillor)

Ciara McCormack – Sinn Féin (Tipperary Local Election Candidate)

Pauline O’Reilly – Green Party (Galway City West Local Election Candidate)

Martina O’Connor – Green Party (Galway City Central Local Election Candidate)

Emma O’Connell – Renua (Gort-Kinvara Local Election Candidate)

Collette Connolly – Independent (Elected Galway City Councillor)

Over the last few days there have been claims that a representative from the newly formed party Aontú had been uninvited.

According to the event page, NUIG Sinn Féin claimed there were too many speakers confirmed as it was and the invite provided to Aontú was never consented by the NUIG Sinn Féin committee. As a result of this, it was claimed that ‘inviting them would be undemocratic to the committee’.

Galway schools seek musicians and music tutors for Music Generation Galway

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April 9, 2019

Galway Daily life & style GRETB seeks music tutors for Galway schools

The Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board is seeking suitably qualified musicians and music tutors to help deliver a quality music education programme across Galway city and county.

Music Tutors are sought who can motivate children to love music, work well as part of a team, and understand how to teach in a group setting where things will tend to get loud.

The Music Generation programme seeks to “provide opportunities for children and young people to access a range of high quality, subsidised vocal and instrumental tuition in their local area”.

In Galway it is seeking to recruit musicians and music tutors who can help facilitate: small-group tuition in vocal or instrumental music, large-group tuition (vocal/instrumental) in early-years and primary school settings, and ensemble and band training and mentoring including song-writing, composition, music technology, and instrumental training.

Music Tutors are also being sought who can teach singing, popular music, and classical musical in association with the Symphonic Waves Youth Orchestra.

Music Generation is Ireland’s National Music Education Programme and is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships.

Tutors and musicians will be appointed by the GRETB in the city and county. More information and application forms are available at galwayroscommon.etb.ie, and must be submitted by noon on April 23.

Calls for ‘gravely harmful’ gay conversion programmes to be banned

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April 9, 2019

The harmful practice of gay conversion therapy should be banned in Ireland, according to a European Election candidate in this constituency.

Dominic Hannigan, who was one of the first two openly gay TDs in the country, has called for a ban on gay conversion proogrammes, saying that if elected, he will work towards progressing a Europe-wide solution to the widely-criticised practice.

The Labour Party candidate said that recent media reports that gay conversion programmes are operating in Ireland are extremely worrying.

“These grotesque practices are based on religious fundamentalism, rather than evidence-based science.

“Conversion programmes have been condemned by the United Nations and the Psychological Society of Ireland, amongst many other professional bodies.

They are profoundly damaging, not only for the young people forced to participate in the programmes, but also because of the impact they have on the wider LGBT community,” commented Mr. Hannigan.

Conversion therapy has been in existence for decades, and remains legal across most of Europe.

It is banned in some Latin American countries including Brazil and Argentina, 15 states in the USA, and four autonomous communities in Spain.

Mr. Hannigan added: “Being gay is not an illness or a psychological disorder. It is repulsive and offensive to hear that organisations are active in Ireland that hold such beliefs. I welcome former President Mary McAleese’s comments today, calling on the government to ensure groups involved in gay conversion are kept well away from young LGBT people.

“I am calling for a ban on such programmes here in Ireland. Furthermore, I will work with MEPs from across the European Union to find Europe-wide solutions to ensuring such programmes are shut down.

“As a starting point, this week I am signing the ILGA’s ‘Come Out Pledge’, which calls on European candidates to stand up for LGBT rights. I’m calling on all candidates in the Midlands North West constituency to do this too.”

Closure order issued against two Galway food businesses in March

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April 9, 2019

Galway Daily news Galway Butchers served with closure order over rodent droppings

Two Galway food businesses were issued with a closure order by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland last month.

Health inspectors with the HSE issued a closure order to Gourmet Tart Company and a kitchen connected to Xi”an Street Food

Gouermet Tart Company of the Ballybane Industrial Estate was issued with a closure order on March 22, which was lifted two days later on March 24.

The order was issued due to “a lack of adequate cleaning and disinfection” which could cause the cross contamination of food.

The inspector noted that several containers for mixing foodstuffs had not been cleaned or disinfected, and some had a “foul odour” coming from them.

It was also noted that the premises wasn’t adequately pest-proofed, with multiple gaps where pest could gain entry.

The business was also ordered to recall all food manufactured on March 21 and 22 until it was deemed safe for human consumption or destroyed.

A second closure order was also issued against a satellite kitchen of Xi”an Street Food on March 1 and lifted four days later on March 5.

According to the FSAI inspector the “layout, design and size of the food preparation area was inadequate and gave rise to an unacceptable risk to food safety.”

The closure order also said that the premises was not pest proof and a large amount of food waste, and full rubbish bags accumulating upstairs from the food preparation area.

The premises ordered to close is on 8 Quay Street and is not connected to the premises on 9 Quay Street.

Plans submitted for 68 homes in Newcastle

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April 9, 2019

Galway Daily news Plans for 80 homes in Newcastle approved

Plans for a residential development of 68 homes in Gaelcarraig, Newcastle are currently before Galway city council.

McHugh Property Holdings have applied for planing permission for 68 homes in two separate scheme across Gaelcarrig Park and Carn Ard in Galway city.

The development would consist of 9 one-bed units, 33 two-bed units, and 26 three-bed units in a mix of apartments and houses spread across 13 separate blocks.

It is situated on a site that is currently vacant and surrounded by existing residential developments off the Letteragh road.

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

The project went through extensive redesigns after the council raised concerns about issues with parking and amenity space in December.

The developer submitted revised plans with more parking under blocks 1 & 7, and Radharc Landscape redesigned the development’s amenity areas in consultation with Parks Personnel from the city council.

A number of submissions were made to the city council from local residents concerned about traffic and street parking, as well as the likelihood of overshadowing of existing homes by these blocks.

One submission objecting to the development came from residents of Gaelcarrig Park who are deeply concerned about the increased traffic it would bring to the area from almost doubling the number of units in the estate.

Concerns were also expressed about the amount of excavation which would be involved, and the high allocation of social housing in what is described as a “mature estate” with a largely older population.

The letter of objection was signed by 28 people who attended a meeting to discuss this development.

The city council is due to make a decision on this planning application by April 28.

Galway medtech company awarded €3.6 million

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April 9, 2019

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

The Galway based medtech company Signum Surgical has been awarded two grants worth a combined €3.6 million.

Signum have have said that the money will be used to advance clinical programmes of its BioHealx medtech device, which is a treatment for a colerectal condition.

Of the grant funding, €2.3 million comes from the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme, and a further €1.3 million has been awarded to Signum from the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund.

BioHealx is an bioabsorbable implant designed to improve the treatment of anal fistula, a condition which develop due to an infected or blocked anal gland.

If untreated it can lead to an abscess and a spreading infection. Signum have said that doctors are unsatisfied with current treatments which are often unsuccessful and can require multiple procedures.

But this new implant requires only a single procedure, and is designed to reduce the risk of infection and dissolve in the body when its jobs is done.

In the US it’s estimated that 64,000 surgical procedures are currently carried out every year to treat this condition.

Eoin Brambury, co-founder and chief technology officer of Signum Surgical said they were glad to receive this funding, which he said shows there is a need for a “viable solution where other approaches have been unsuccessful”.

Status orange fog warning in place overnight

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April 8, 2019

Galway Daily news Met Eireann issues Fog warning as motorists advised to exercise caution

An somewhat different weather warning than normal has been issued tonight, with a status orange fog warning in place in Galway.

An overnight fog warning has been issued for Galway, Dublin, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Mayo, Roscommon, Clare, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford.

The weather warning will be in place from midnight until 8am on Tuesday, April 9.

Met Eireann has warned that Mist will thicken into fog overnight and will be dense at times.

Motorists have been advised to exercise caution and use their fog lights if they’re on the road tonight.

Unemployment drops for fourth month in a row

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April 8, 2019