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Anne Rabbitte to run in European Parliament election

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily credit unions sport Television broadcast deal sidelines GAA fans says Rabbitte

Galway East TD Anne Rabbitte has been added to the Fianna Fáil ticket for the upcoming European Parliament elections.

Deputy Rabbitte will be standing for the Midlands-North-West seat in the European Parliament elections taking place in May.

After initially failing to secure enough votes to get on the ticket at the party convention, Anne Rabbitte was added as a candidate by the party’s National Constituencies Committee.

She will be running in the Midlands-North-West constituency along with Brendan Smith, TD for Cavan.

Charlie Byrne’s crowned Best Independent Bookstore in Ireland

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily arts & culture Annual Fiction Slam returns to Charlie Byrne's

Galway’s famed Charlie Byrne’s has been named the Best Independent Bookshop in Ireland.

A staple of cultural life in Galway for 30 years, Charlie Byrne’s is renowned for its massive collection of books in every subject imaginable, stacked floor to ceiling in its web of rooms.

More than just a shop, Charlie Byrne’s is known for its book clubs and other reading events, as well as being an ardent supporter of the arts in Galway.

The bookstore was named the regional winner for Ireland in the Independent Bookshop category of the 2019 British Book Awards.

In a post on facebook reacting to the news the store said they were all “delighted” to be chosen, adding “Thank you so much to The Bookseller and to all of out amazing customers”.

Also known as the Nibbies, the British Book Awards awards are organised by the UK’s literature industry magazine The Bookseller to celebrate authors, stores, and other figures in the literary industry that keep people reading.

Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller managing editor and chair of the Independent Bookshop of the Year judges said this year saw “the wonderful news that indie bookshop numbers increased for the second year in a row, the first time that has happened in decades.”

“We’ve seen that renaissance in the sector reflected in the sheer depth and breadth of submissions to this award,” added.

Charlie Byrne’s will now go on to compete to be best Independent Bookshop in all of Ireland and Britain at the grand finals on May 13 against eight other stores.

On top of the award, the winner will also receive a prize of £5,000 from Gardner Books.

“These are nine worthy winners, from regional shortlists of startling strength, all of which represent the best in British bookselling but, perhaps more importantly, are hubs of their communities,” Tome Tivnan concluded.

Young Social Innovators Speak Out in Ballinasloe

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Young Social Innovators Speak Out in Ballinasloe

Galway’s Young Social Innovators came together to talk about the challenges facing society today, and to highlight what young people can do to tackle them, at a Speak Out event in Ballinasloe this week.

Young Social Innovators is an organisation that brings together young people and educators that aims to promote education for social innovation.

The Speak Out Tour 2019 is a chance for young people to be heard about the social issues that are a concern to them ahead of the YSI Innovators of the Year Awards taking place in May.

At the Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe this week Galway’s young people discussed issues such as homelessness, equality, environmental issues, and the effects of social media that have a direct impact on their lives.

Taking part in the Galway event were students from Presentation College, Tuam; East Galway Youth Project Group; Garbally College, Ballinasloe and Dominican College, Galway and more.

Galway East TD Seán Canney, who attended the event in Ballinasloe, said that it was “inspiring to see teams of young people coming together to work on projects that promote active citizenship and social innovation.”

He added that it was refreshing to see projects like #TellYourTD that “encourage engagement with the political process”.

YSI began as a pilot programme created by Sr Stanislaus Kennedy in 2001 to look at emerging social needs in Ireland and how to respond to them.

It was set up as a company in 2005 and is supported by my Department, the Department for Rural and Community Development, as well as other public bodies and private sponsors.

Galway mother charged with rape of her own daughter

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily courts Man sent to trial charged with pulling knife on Garda

A Galway woman has been charged with the rape and sexual abuse of her daughter, along with two men accused of raping her two children.

The Irish Times reports that the woman has been charged with four counts of rape, as well as, 10 counts of sexual exploitation, 10 counts of sexual assault, false imprisonment, and reckless endangerment for putting her daughter in a position where she could be sexually assaulted.

The charges related to the daughter are alleged to have take place between October 2012 and October 2013.

The woman is also charged with reckless endangerment of her son by placing him in a position where he could be sexually abused between January 2013 and September 2014.

The woman’s partner faces 20 counts of rape, ten of the daughter and ten of the son, along with 20 counts of sexual assault and 20 counts of counts of sexual exploitation.

He is also charged with the reckless endangerment and false imprisonment of the children.

The final accused is a 53 year old man who is charged with 20 counts of raping the boy and 4 charges of rape of the girl.

In addition he faces ten counts each of sexual assault and sexual exploitation of the boy, and four each exploitation and assault charges of the girl.

The three were brought before Galway District Court on Friday after being arrested in two early morning raids by Gardaí on two separate houses according to the Irish Times.

None of the parties involved in this case be named in order to protect the identities of the victims.

Judge Mary Fahy granted bail with strict conditions attached, while the three will appear before the District Court again next month to be served with the book of evidence.

Profits double at Loughrea pharma company

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Chanelle Pharma to create 60 new jobs in Ballinasloe

The Loughrea based pharma company Chanelle Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing saw its pretax profits more than double to €2.72 million last year.

The Irish Times reports that newly filed accounts from the pharma giant showed a 144 increase in profits before tax in the financial year ending in April 2018.

Employee numbers at the Loughre based company also rose by 39 people last year to a total workforce of 281.

Chanelle is a privately-owned pharma company that specialises in generic pharmaceutical products, working in human and animal genetics to create products to go on the market once patents expire.

It currently hold over 1,700 animal health licences registered in the EU, more than any other company, with a further 500 registered globally.

In human medicine, the Chanelle Group hold 800 medicine licences around the world.

The increase in profits at the Chanelle Group, founded by Loughrea native Michael Burke, comes as revenues grew by 16 percent in the same period to €45 million.

Chanelle expects to add hundreds more jobs in Loughrea with the addition of a new manufacturing facility starting construction this year.

Galway dominates National Museum archive of ‘community’ history

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily life & style Galway leads national museum archive of community history

The National Museum of Ireland is building a massive programme of local, community driven historical archives, and so far Galway is dominating the field.

The National Museum’s Irish Community Archive Network (ICAN) has already delivered 17 community driven archival projects, which it aims to ramp up to 70 over the next three years.

Of those, 16 are with communities in Galway. This has been facilitated through a collaborative partnership with Galway County Council.

‘Community’ is the theme of the national museum’s programme of activities for 2019 which has been revealed today.

In keeping with the commitment set out in its Master Vision Statement 2018 – 2032, the Museum’s programme of activity for the year has been developed with a view to engaging diverse and new audiences.

last year the museum welcomed 1.2 million visitors, a number which it hopes to top this year by working new communities, groups, researchers, and artists across its range of activities.

Lynn Scarff, who took up the position of Museum Director last May, said their role was to “preserve and present the stories of Ireland and its place in the world”.

This, she said, was the ethos that has driven the programme for this year, focusing on “engaging, entertaining and educating” as many communities as could be reached.

More than 160,000 people engaged with the Museum’s Education and Outreach Programme in 2018, and its hoped that this year that will rise to over 170,000.

This will be achieved through “some 500 events and workshops, 400 school visits, 2,200 self-directed group initiatives, and 1,100 facilitated group initiatives.”

The Museum is also hosting a number of notable events on its four sites this year in association with other organisations, such as Culture Night, the Dublin Pride Block Party, the Stoneybatter Festival, Cruinnu na nÓg, and Dublin Festival of History.

Over 40 people on trolleys at UHG today

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Cardiac care investment in Galway

The Emergency Department at UHG is the most overcrowded in Ireland today with 42 people on trolleys.

After UHG the worst affected hospitals today are Cork University Hospital (41), Beaumont Hospital (37), and Limerick University Hospital (36).

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation Trolley/Ward Watch keeps track of the number of people waiting on trolleys at the A&E or without a proper bed in overcrowded wards.

Galway dealt with strenuous conditions this week as an escalation protocol was put in place on Tuesday in the city and at Portiuncula due to serious overcrowding.

The two hospitals were dealing with an upsurge in flu and respiratory illnesses that require patients to be kept in isolation.

Local Aldi staff award Pieta House €500 grant to support vital services

By
Michael Malone
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pieta house galway aldi
Photo:-Mike Shaughnessy

Aldi’s Loughrea store staff have awarded Pieta House with a €500 grant in recognition of its fantastic work and to help support its vital services.

The €500 grant was presented to Joe Burke of Pieta House Galway.

Now in its third year, hundreds of organisations have been supported by Aldi’s Community Grants programme to date with over €200,000 donated in total.

Commenting, John Curtin, Group Buying Director, Aldi Ireland, said: “We are delighted our Loughrea store employees have chosen to support Pieta House Galway.  The free services it provides to people in suicidal distress and those who engage in self-harm makes a huge difference.

“Supporting the local communities our stores serve is something that we truly believe in. Through our Community Grants programme and partnerships with both FoodCloud and youth organisation Foróige, we have been able to directly help many of the worthwhile charities and organisations making a huge difference to County Galway.”

Aldi’s Community Grants Programme provides each Aldi employee with the opportunity to nominate a charity, community group or not-for-profit organisation within their local community for support.

Nominated charities are assessed according to a defined selection criteria, with the organisation deemed the most worthwhile receiving a €500 donation from Aldi.

Des Bishop Galway gigs cancelled due to bereavement

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Shelly Hannigan
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des bishop galway daily

Des Bishop has cancelled his Galway gigs this weekend due to the death of his mother.

The comedian paid tribute to his mother on Instagram earlier this week, saying: “An amazing woman. Incredible mom. Tough lady. Funny right to the end. Dropped an F bomb in her last words.

“She went the way she wanted, surrounded by her 3 sons. She fought when it was worth fighting and let go when it wasn’t.”

Des ended the post with a joke aimed at the style of clothes seen in the old family picture.

“Yes I am wearing Z Cavariccis. You can be sad and embarrassed at the same time,” he said.

The Town Hall Theatre sent an email to those who purchased tickets explaining that the performances this Friday and Saturday would not go ahead.

They are hoping to reschedule the Des Bishop performances and will contact customers when dates are confirmed.

The email states: “We can swap your tickets to one of the upcoming performances when this is confirmed or if you would like a full refund, please contact the box office so this can be arranged.”

‘Inspirational’ Athenry native wins silver at para-cycling World Championships

By
Michael Malone
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ronan grimes galway daily athenry

Athenry native Ronan Grimes has won a Silver medal at the Para-cycling World Championships in Apeldoorn.

Ronan began cycling just over five years ago, and began training seriously in late 2015.

In the time since, he has propelled himself to the front ranks of international para-cycling.

East Galway TD Ciaran Cannon said that Ronan’s win is a ‘tribute to his stamina and determination’.

Minister Cannon said: “Ronan has said himself that para-cycling wasn’t even something he considered because of physical constraints, yet he trained and he has succeeded and succeeded well.

“I wish Ronan well as he prepares for the next challenge in para-cycling and I have no doubt that whatever endeavour he takes up in that respect, he will accomplish it with aplomb and bring further honour and credit to the sport of cycling and to East Galway.

“I know too that this win will be an inspiration to aspiring athletes throughout the country and will spur them on in taking the next step in fulfilling their sporting ambitions.”

Galway Hospice not pursuing legal review of planning refusal

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Galway Hospice not pusuing legal review of planning rejection

Galway Hospice have decided against pursuing a legal review of the decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for a new hospice.

Last month the planning authority overturned a decision by the city council to grant permission for the new 36 bed Galway Hospice facility close to Merlin Park Woods.

At the time the hospice said that it was getting legal advice about the possibility of seeking a judicial review of the decision.

However a statement released today said the hospice has “reluctantly taken the decision not to seek leave for a judicial review.”

The hospice board and management team said that they were “shocked and devastated by An Bord Pleanála’s decision, but that pursuing a judicial review would carry significant risks and costs “with no guarantee of success”.

The process of providing a new hospice in the city will now likely be significantly delayed, it was warned.

Mary Nash, CEO of Galway Hospice, said that everyone was still one hundred percent committed to building a new state of the art facility in Galway city to meet current and future needs.

“Unfortunately, due to An Bord Pleanala’s decision plans are further delayed,” she added.

“Regrettably it is likely that during this period not everyone who needs inpatient services will benefit from the high quality care that the hospice provides.”

Friends of Merlin Woods and An Taisce lead an appeal against the city council’s grant of permission on the grounds that the chosen site was a protected Annex 1 lowland meadow.

Both parties have said that they are not opposed to the development of the new hospice, but that there are more ideal sites in the area that would not impact on local flora and fauna.

Caroline Stanley of Friends of Merlin Woods said they were happy the “current threat” of development to the meadow and woodlands in the area is over.

“It has been a conflict which no one wanted but Friends of Merlin Woods and the community who support the woodlands believe we must protect our recreational and amenity areas, and our high biodiversity areas.”

She added that any damage to the habitats in the area would pose a serious threat to species living there, which has a knock-on effect on human life.

“It is our hope that another site will be offered again on existing community facility zoned land for use by Galway Hospice and that Councillors will be more cautious on rezoning environmentally sensitive land in the future,” Caroline said.

Galway Hospice acknowledged the environmental concerns raised by objectors, but said that patients and their families in Galway should take precedence in consideration.

It was added that, working with the HSE, Galway Hospice made “significant compromises” in the design to address those concerns, cutting back on the originally planned size of the project in order to protect the habitat.

Demand for services at Galway Hospice is expected to double over the next ten years, while the current facility in Renmore is not considered fit for purpose.

“The Hospice will now review its options for a new location and will consult with planning officials, advisors and the local community before making a decision on the best way forward to deliver this much needed service.”

Two questioned over drugs and gun seizure

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news two questioned after drugs and a gun seized in Loughrea

Two men were arrested by Galway gardaí, and one is still being questioned, after drugs and a gun were seized in a raid in east Galway yesterday.

During a search in Loughrea, officers with the Divisional Drugs Unit found cocaine and cannabis with an estimated street value of €320,000.

The search was carried out with the assistance of local gardaí in Loughrea as part of an operation targeting organised crime in the area.

Two men, one in his 20s and one in his 40s, were detained at Galway garda station where one is still being questioned today.

 

Search for missing Inis Oírr woman ends after body recovered

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Lough Derg RNLI rescue two people after boat strikes rocks

The search for an Inis Oírr woman reported missing yesterday (21/3) has been stood down after the body of woman was found off the coast.

The 70 year old woman was reported missing from her home on the Aran Islands yesterday afternoon.

The Aran Islands Lifeboat, Doolin Coast Guard unit, and a Coast Guard helicopter carried out a search of the area.

She was spotted in the water roughly a mile off the coast by the helicopter, and her body was recovered by the RNLI and brought ashore at Rossaveal.

Missing teenager found safe after public appeal

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Missing teenager located safe and well

A teenager who was reported missing from Galway city has been found safe and well.

Stephen Furey (16) was reported missing from the city since March 14.

Gardaí appealed to the public for information that could help locate him this week.

He has now been reported safe and well having been located on Thursday evening, gardaí have said.

Aran Islands secondary school scheme awarded €450,000

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Irish Language Plan approved for the Aran Islands

Post-Primary schools in the Aran Islands have been granted an allowance of up to €450,000 to help students from the mainland live and study there.

The money will be allocated to families on the Aran Islands that provide accommodation for students from the mainland who spend a school year on one of the islands.

The grant money was awarded by Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands and Galway TD Seán Kyne under the government’s Irish Language Learners Scheme and will be paid out over the next three years.

Under this scheme, which has been in place since 2007, up to 30 post-primary students benefit from spending an entire school year in one of the post-primary schools on the Aran Islands.

A daily grant of €27 is paid to each student for the nights they spend on the islands.

Minister Kyne said this scheme plays an important role in keeping schools on the islands viable, as well as the larger island community.

“Furthermore,” he added, “as a result of this measure, students are given an opportunity which they wouldn’t otherwise receive to spend an entire year being educated through Irish on the Aran Islands.”

“This measure is thus beneficial both to the Irish Language and to the islands.”

More time sought to build 26 Ballinasloe houses

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

More time is being sought to complete a residential development of 26 houses at Creagh, Ballinasloe.

An extension of duration is being to planning permission previously granted for a housing estate consisting of 16 detached houses, and 10 semi-detached houses at Portnick Creagh, Ballinasloe.

The planning application states that the reason work did not commence before as “Prior to now the development was not of interest.”

An extension of duration is being requested from the county council as “Of late there have been expressions of interest, but the expiry of the planning was a problem”.

This is the second time that the developer has sought to extend planning permission for this project, with a previous EOD granted in 2014.

The reason why work had yet to begin at that time was due to economic circumstances caused by the downturn.

It’s now expected that work on the estate will commence “Asap” according to developer Robert Finn.

If the extension of duration is granted, planning permission for the residential development will be valid until 2024.

Galway county council is due to make a decision on this application by April 11.

Gardaí appeal for help to find missing Galway teenager

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Missing teenager located safe and well

Gardaí have appealed to the public for information to help find a teenager missing from Galway city.

Stephen Furey (16) has been missing from Galway city since Thursday, March 14.

He is described as being 5’8” (1.7m) tall and of a slight build, with short black hair and and brown eyes.

He wears braces and has an ear piercing.

When last seen he was wearing a matching black tracksuit with white stripes, black gloves and black Nike runners.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Galway Garda Station on 091 538 000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.

Housing Minister to address Galway conference on urban development

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Rent Pressure Zone extended until 2021

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy will address a conference taking place in Galway next week on urban development.

Minister Murphy will be the keynote speaker at  ‘Ireland’s Cities – Powerhouses of Regional Growth‘ conference on urban development along with Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority and John Moran, Chair of the Land Development Agency.

Galway Chamber are hosting this half day conference at NUI Galway’s ILAS centre to explore how Ireland’s five cities can fulfill the goals of economic development for their regions set out in the National Planning Framework (NPF) and Project Ireland 2040.

This is the inaugural event of City Regions Ireland, an association of the Chambers of Commerce in the five cities – Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford, which was launched last November in the Custom House.

In his address to the conference Eoghan Murphy will discuss the role that these five urban areas play in delivering on urban growth.

President of Galway Chamber said that the conference is about understanding what the NPF means for our cities and what that means for housing, transport, leisure amenities, and commercial development.

The urban development conference will take place at the ILAS Centre in Newcastle on March 28 from 8:30am to 1:30pm and tickets can be booked HERE for those interested.

Restoration of historic Gort monument to go ahead

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Gort awarded €100,000 for town centre revitalisation plan

The Christ the King monument that sits in Market Square, Gort is going to be restored, with the county council giving approval for conservation works to go ahead.

Burren Lowlands CLG applied for permission to performs restorations works on the base of the monument, which is a protected structure, and for other works to improve the square around it.

First erected in 1930, the freestanding marble statue was commissioned by local businesswoman Anne Coen from the sculptor Albert Power after she lost her son Matty.

The base of the statue is of particular historical interest, designed by Thomas Cullen with “crisp Celtic interlace and Gaelic lettering demonstrate the burgeoning interest in national identity in the early days of the State.”

According to the Burren Lowlands group the base is in need of restoration, with joints opening up and some of the panels needing to be replaced.

Other work to be carried out includes removing the present rockeries, along with the concrete footwall and the rusting iron railings atop them.

They are going be replaced with cut limestone seating and planters to make the square a more enjoyable space, while the railings will be removed to the Gort Inse Guaire River Walk as part pf the rejuvenation of that area.

The works are geared towards “promoting the rejuvenation of the historic market square as a shared communal space for the greater Gort Inse Guaire community”.

No submissions by any third party were made to the county council related to this project.

In the interest of conservation the county council said that before work can begin the specifications of the new stone and cobbling, as well as the proposed cleaning methods for the existing stonework, must be agreed on beforehand.

Burren Lowlands CLG are also required to ensure that the work is overseen by a building professional with conservation expertise who will provide “Certification that the works have been carried out in accordance with good conservation practice”.

A photographic record of the works must also be maintained and submitted to the council afterwards.

In total the county council gave permission for the restoration of the Christ the King monument with five conditions attached.

Double the bounty as the Westend Street Feast returns twice this year

By
Briain Kelly
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Luna Clairon-Hardy of Rouge Restaurant, at their display at the Westend Street Feast at Raven Terrace on Bank Holiday Monday. The family friendly day was held to highlight all that is going on in Westend area the city.

After two incredibly successful years so far the Westend Street Feast is coming back again, and no-one is going to have to wait until June this time round.

This year the Street Feast is popping up twice in Galway this year, coming out ahead of the summer for an Easter Festival in April.

Some of Galway’s most loved, and award winning businesses will be bringing their food and drink onto the streets of the westend for a spectacular event that lets people mingle, sample the tastes of Galway, and meet the minds them.

Galways westend have again teamed up with Walsh Waste to make this a biodegradable and compostable festival, using eco packaging and take away materials.

The Easter Festival will take place on April 22, before returning again on Monday, June 3, kicking off at 11am each morning and running until 4pm.

The Street Feast will allow you to sample a taste of each business including Kai Restaurant, Dela Restaurant, John Keoghs The Lockkeeper, An Tobar Nua, Rouge Restaurant, Gourmet Tart, Handsome Burger, Hooked on Henry Street, Salthouse, Crust Bucket, Tartare Cafe + Wine Bar, Massimo Bar, Monroes, America Village, Deli La Tasca, and BoTown.

Other retailers taking part include McGuire’s Daybreak, Bell Book and Candle, Farraghers, Avo Nice Day, All About kombucha and, of course, Ernies.

Raven’s Terrace will be closed off to traffic for the duration of the Street Feast with people able to wander among the stalls and get some nibbles, as well as enjoy live music and face painting.

Live music at the Westend Street Feast

This is a family friendly day in the Westend that aims to encourage people to cross the bridge and enjoy all that is going on in this much-loved area of Galway.

Last year saw over 5,000 make the odyssey into the west(end) and have a enjoy a bountiful feast.

Mags Bohan of Dela Restaurant and the Westend Traders Association explained that each business will be offering a flavour of what they do best.

“The area will be set up as a picnic area and we are inviting Galway to the westend to enjoy all of our amazing food,” she said.

“Each business will have a stall set up selling food and refreshments, there will be live blue grass music and face painting will be happening for all the children.”

Of course, this being Galway all plans are subject to the weather playing nice. For updates more information keep an eye on Galway’s Westend.

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