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Body recovered from city waters in tragic incident

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news

A post mortem examination will take place on body of a man recovered from the water in Galway city today.

The man was spotted going into the water near the Spanish Arch at around 11am this morning and a member of the public raised the alert.

The Galway Lifeboat was launched at 11:05 and came to the area along with the Coast Guard Rescue helicopter.

The man was recovered from the water after roughly 20 minutes and brought to University Hospital Galway.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital and a postmortem examination will now take place.

Gardaí have asked anyone with information on this “tragic incident” to contact Galway garda station at 091 538 000.

Car dealer convicted of misleading customer about car’s crash history

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily courts Car dealer convicted of misleading customer about car history

A Galway based car dealer has been given a suspended sentence and fined for giving a customer false information about a car.

Galway car dealer Kevin McGann, previously trading as KMM Motors on the Claregalway road, was accused of not telling a customer about an imported car’s crash history and lying about its warranty.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission opened in investigation into Mr McGann after a complaint from a customer.

The customer said that they had bought a car off him that was imported from the UK, but were never told that it had been in a crash.

He was also accused of providing false information about the existence of a warranty.

Judge John King gave Kevin McGann a four month sentence, which would be suspended provided he pay €7,405.85 compensation to the person who bought the car in the next six month.

He was also ordered to pay an additional €9,500 to cover the CCPC’s full legal and investigation costs.

Isolde Goggin, Chairperson of the CCPC said, “As recognised by Judge John King in his sentencing today, misleading a consumer about the history of a car is a very serious offence.”

“Not only can it be costly but critically, it can be dangerous,” she warned.

She said that consumers need accurate information about a car’s history from the car dealer to make informed decisions about its road worthiness.

“Mr McGann’s conviction is a strong reminder to all car traders that if you mislead consumers or provide consumers with false information about the history of a car or inclusion of a warranty, you are liable to a criminal prosecution.”

Mr McGann was previously convicted in Ballinasloe District Court in 2008 of selling “clocked” cars that had their milage tampered with.

At that time he was trading as Kilgrave cars.

Barna jobs safe as machines could replace two in five workers

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Barna safe as machines threaten Irish jobs

Jobs out in Barna the safest in the country from risk of automation according to a new study.

Research at UCC has found that machines could replace up to 40 percent of the Irish workforce, but that some areas are safer than others.

According to the Irish Examiner the study, titled ‘Automation in Irish Towns: Who’s Most at Risk’ found that people working in Barna, Ballina, and the Skerries, Co. Dublin are safest from the machines.

The study, compiled from 2016 census data, said that Barna benefited from having a large population of people with third level education who are engaged in complex and creative work.

Positions in arts, media, or cultural work, as well as healthcare and research and development are likely to remain in human hands.

The jobs most at risk are those involving repetitive tasks such as secretarial and administrative work, as well as people in agriculture, factory operation and customer service.

The town in Ireland most endangered by the rise of the machines in our economy was identified as Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford.

Dr Frank Crowley, co-author of the report and economist at the Spatial and Regional Economics Research Centre at UCC  , said that the risk of automation is not spread equally.

Some towns are more at risk than others than others, with the “dominance of the city” on display.

He added that tackling the risks associated with automation will require intensely local solutions, not a “one size fits all” approach to policy.

High Court dismisses personal injury claim from minor accident

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily courts

A personal injury claim that a minor accident caused life changing injuries has been dismissed by the High Court.

Desmond McDonagh, from the Headford road, said that an accident behind Galway Shopping Centre where a truck reversed into his car had ruined his life.

The Irish Times reports that Justice Michael Twomey didn’t accept Mr McDonagh’s evidence that his depression, anxiety and a heart attack in the years after were because of this accident.

Mr McDonagh was involved in an accident with a transport truck being driven by James Dominick Dent in the service area behind the shopping centre on November 9, 2013.

He said that Mr Dent reversed into his car while it wasn’t moving, while Mr Dent claimed Mr McDonagh drove into his truck.

Less than €2,000 worth of damage was done to the car, with scrapes along the driver side door, damage to the right wing mirror, and dents on the front.

The High Court heard that less than a week after the accident Mr McDonagh went to his GP who found him to be in good health.

But when being examined by a doctor on behalf of Mr Dent’s insurer four years later he said that he suffered a heart attack and other health problems because of the accident.

He sued in the Circuit Court for personal injury and damage to his car, where his claims were dismissed as fraudulent.

Mr McDonagh appealed that decision to the High Court, where new evidence was presented as to the damage to his car.

A letter from an insurance assessor which was not disclosed in the Circuit Court found that the truck did reverse into his car.

The judge accepted this new evidence and awarded Mr McDonagh €2,124 for the damage to his car.

However the whiplash claims were dismissed, and he was ordered to pay his own legal fees for the Circuit and High Court actions, which will likely come to far higher than this award.

Judge Twomey chided Mr Dent’s insurance company for not disclosing the letter sooner.

He also said that claims like Mr McDonagh’s bring the entire system of personal injuries litigation into “disrepute”.

New Presentation College Athenry opens on Monday

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news New Presentation College Athenry opens Monday

After a long wait the new school for Presentation College Athenry is opening for classes on Monday.

This €20 million state of the art Presentation College building will be able to serve 1,000 pupils as demand for education services in the area grows.

It’s taken many years of campaigning by parents, teachers, and the local community for ‘The Pres’ Athenry to get this new facility.

Since first opening its doors in 1947, the Pres has educated three generations of locals in some 70 fine years of work.

Galway East TD Seán Canney congratulated Presentation College on the move to its new school at Ballygurran.

He added that as someone who has worked in education he understands “the importance of providing modern facilities for top class education. In that way, we enable students to maximise their full potential.”

Presentation College isn’t the only major upgrade to Athenry’s education facilities that’s making progress.

Construction got underway on a new school facility for Clarin College last December as is currently expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

“Together these schools will meet the present and future demands for second level education in Athenry,” Seán Canney said

Deputy Canney added that when the new Clarin College is complete, the old campus would be available to develop as primary and secondary gaelscoils for the area.

Cairde Pres, an outreach group made of people who’ve been involved in Presentation College over the years, said that they were feeling nostalgic but excited about the future.

“The students, the teachers and all those involved with ‘The Pres’ helped make so many great memories.”

“We know our lovely new school will help us build more wonderful memories.”

“We look forward to welcoming you all to the new Presentation College at Ballygurraun, Athenry. when we have settled in.”

Inishbofin farmer gets approval for microbrewery

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Inishbofin farmer gets approval for microbrewery

A farmer on Inishbofin is starting a little sideline by opening a microbrewery on the family farm.

Coleman King sought planning permission from the county council to convert part of a barn on his family’s farm at Middlequarter, Inishbofin to a microbrewery.

The microbrewery would produce two batches of 300 litres of beer week, operating from 24m² of the farm’s barn.

The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht claimed that the Appropriate Assessment and Natura Impact Statement submitted with the application were misleading.

The Department said that the development was within a Special Area of Conservation, and that the project would have a damaging effect on the local Corncrake bird species.

In a scathing rebuttal Emmet McGloin of Corrib Environmental Services, said that the scale of the maps on the NPWS website aren’t large enough to facilitate a proper drawing of boundaries.

He added that the NIS fully acknowledges the presence of Condrakes in the area and that construction work would only be carried out when the migratory bird is not present.

Galway county council gave its approval with a total of seven planning conditions attached.

Galway Arts Centre welcomes the artist with 1001 names

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily life & style Galway Arts Centre has a strange new exhibition from an artist with many names

Galway Arts Centre is hosting an exciting new exhibition of strange wooden objects and weather sculptures from an artist with many names.

Nik Taylor is a British born, Kerry based artist who makes his work under many pseudonyms, using different media to explore a huge range of themes in installations that make incredible use of space to bring specific situations to life.

This exhibition is made of works from his ongoing projects under the names Morley Hill and Spalla Gap.

The Morley Hill works are a collection of collages, paintings and kinetic wooden sculpture.

Nik’s work in the Spalla Gap project is inspired by objects found along the shoreline and shaped by the elements.

Natural objects weathered or otherwise changed by the wind, the water, and marine life.

He himself has described his practice as “obsessive, systematic pottering”.

The opening reception for this exhibition will be held at Galway Arts Centre this Friday, February 22 at 6pm and all are welcom.

The works will remain on display at the arts centre until March 22.

Galway TD warns of deep cuts to CAP

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news €20.6 million in ANC payments issued to Galway farmers

Galway West TD Eamon Ó Cuív has warned that cuts to the CAP could be far higher than what is being forecast after 2020.

The next budget for the CAP which will run from 2021 – 2027 proposes a funding cut of 5 percent.

But Eamon Ó Cuív claims that this budget doesn’t factor for inflation, and the real cut could be as high as 20 percent.

To counter this, the Fianna Fáil TD said that the government needs to invest more in rural development projects like the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes and environmental programmes like GLAS and the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme.

Further reform is needed in the basic payment and greening scheme he said, as their current levels are based on outdated information.

“At the moment farmers are getting grants, based on the stocking density they had and the grants received in 2001.”

“It is totally unacceptable that a grant scheme that would be running to 2027 would be based on things that happened so long ago,” Mr Ó Cuív said.

He proposes that there should be a cap of €60,000 on both the basic payment and greening scheme and a levelling of payments per hectare.

he said this must recognise the”high environmental value of farming in some of the less productive farming areas that are of high ecological value and the need to keep farmers in these areas, particularly along the west coast of Ireland.”

The deputy concluded by saying that changes are needed and that the exchequer should continue to make up any shortfalls in funding “as farmers need this money to make farming profitable in Ireland.”

Tuam Cathedral renovations get the go ahead

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Tuam Cathedral refurbishments approved

Permission has been granted for renovations to Tuam Cathedral to make it suitable for religious ceremonies.

St. Jarlath’s Diocesan Trust had submitted plans with the county council to for refurbishments to Tuam Cathedral needed for practical reasons.

The Cathedral of the Assumption on Bishop Street in Tuam has been the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Tuam since 1837.

The diocese wants to replace the Reredos, a decorative screen behind the alter, as well as removing some more modern fitting and replacing them with fresh ones.

The work that is planned now is necessary because of part work done in the 90s that have made the space unsuitable for religious ceremonies.

According the panning application the existing layout of the sanctuary and reredos has left it too small for ceremonies to be properly held.

The current horizontal, wooden reredos has also been described as out of character with the rest of the Cathedral.

It is “neither gothic nor contemporary in feeling and there is a resulting conflict between the design of the existing reredos and the surrounding gothic verticality of the cathedral.”

It also lacks “ameliorating features such as outstanding carvings or craftsmanship.”

The diocesan trust is going to replace it with a granite reredos with oak panelling that’s more in tune with Tuam Cathedral.

Other parts of the sanctuary will be refurbished to provide more space.

Since Tuam Cathedral is a protected structure, and work that could materially alter it requires planning approval from the council.

As a requirement of the grant of permission, the county council has required that for that an architect with experience in conservation must be employed to over see the work.

Upon completion this architect will certify that the works “have been carried out in accordance with good conservation practice”.

The Trust and council must also been in agreement on the size and design of the new Reredos.

The county council gave planning permission for the Cathedral renovation with a total of three conditions attached.

Galway Computer Science student wins prestigious global award

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Michael Malone
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Saud al Darra galway student galway daily

A student at NUI Galway was one of five winners at the prestigious Techfugees Global Challenge competition.

Suad Al Darra, an MSc student in Computer Science in the College of Engineering and Informatics at the University, won the award for her
‘Refugees Are’ project.

Refugees Are is a platform designed to analyse negative narratives published globally about refugees.

The Techfugees Global Challenge competition sought the most innovative new projects using technology to help displaced people, refugees and NGOs.

The competitions project applications went through an international Jury of experts who selected 25 finalists from hundreds of applications, from 52 countries across the world.

The projects were then pitched in front of an international Jury at the Techfugees Summit in Paris, which was opened by former Prime Minister of Greece and current Councillor at the World Refugee Council, George Papandreou. Suad’s project was one of five final winners.

Suad Al Darra graduated as a Software Engineer from Damascus University in 2008 and worked for several international companies.

She and her husband moved to Ireland in 2014 escaping the conflict in Syria and looking for a better future.

She worked at Fujitsu laboratories at the Insight Centre for Data Analytics for two years as a Research Engineer and after that worked for UNICEF, analysing non-traditional sources of data and applying data science methodologies to incubate and develop data-driven prototypes that support emergency response.

In 2017, Suad enrolled as a part-time student to the MSc in Computer Science (Data Analytics) within the College of Engineering and Informatics at NUI Galway, and also became a mother during that time.

Stemming from her own personal displacement journey, Suad discovered the power of big data during her studies and entered her project in the Techfugees competition.

Conor Hayes, Programme Director of the MSc in Data Analytics at NUI Galway, said: “Suad fashioned an award-winning data analytics project on a subject that is hugely relevant to the experiences of her own family and to the many other displaced families and people in the world.

“We are very proud of her and delighted that she could achieve this while a student at NUI Galway.”

Speaking about her winning project Suad Al Darra, said: “The ‘Refugees Are’ project engages the public in classifying their news as ‘negative’ or ‘positive’ to raise more awareness in the language used by journalists and politicians when describing refugees and migrants.

“The goal is to tackle the problem of Xenophobia against refugees created by the media, which is negatively affecting their hope of integrating and starting a new beginning.

“I was curious to explore the messages found in the news and create an overview of it.

“I decided to explore the news using GDELT (Global Dataset of Emotions, Language, Tone), the biggest open source collection of news articles with high frequency and in over 100 languages. GDELT has been used previously in measuring refugee flows in Europe depending on media citation.”

Suad added: “This dashboard may potentially help organisations like UNICEF explore locations of countries with negative stories in their media, in order to better target the problem of Xenophobia with customised local campaigns or media training.

“It can also be useful to spread awareness and empathy towards migrants and refugees by allowing the public to participate in classifying the news as positive, negative or neutral and giving them the chance to understand refugees’ daily struggles and challenges.

“The next step is to add more daily news and to automate the process to make it a real-time dashboard plugged in directly to GDELT news.”


Anger expressed at Israeli Ambassador’s ‘secret visit’ to Galway

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Michael Malone
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free palestine galway daily israel

The Israeli Ambassador’s ‘secret’ visit to Galway has been slammed by local councillors and political representatives.

Local councillors and political representatives were apparently kept in the dark over the visit of the Ambassador.

Joe Loughnane, a leading figure in the Galway Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said he has serious concerns about the secrecy of the visit.

He said: “I was told on Wednesday afternoon about the visit. I asked a number of City Councillors.

“They were none the wiser. Many of us put up public posts on social media about it on Thursday and Friday – there was still no news.

“We now know that on Friday, the Israeli Ambassador visited NUI Galway, the Galway Chamber, Galway City Council and Galway Bay FM.”

The interview on Galway Bay FM has been slated by some politicians and activists.

Loughnane added: “The serious issue here, which we will be demanding answers about, is who invited the Israeli Ambassador to Galway and kept the itinerary secret, even from local politicians?”

Gaza remains under occupation, while illegal settlements continue to be built on Palestinian lands.

In 2014, the Israeli Defence Forces killed over 1,600 civilians in Gaza.

Galway rail service delayed by broken freight train

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Extra train services added for supporters going to Galway v Limerick semi-final

Rail service to Galway and Westport has been delayed today by a broken freight train on the tracks.

According to Irish Rail a freight train experienced a mechanical failure on the line at Geashill in Offaly causing severe delays to rail service on the western line.

Bus transfers were organised between Tullamore and Portarlington for passengers travelling to and from Galway this afternoon.

The broken freight train has just been cleared from the tracks and its hoped that regular services will resume shortly.

Water outages in Galway city and Furbogh

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Water outages in multiple areas of Galway due to burst mains

Residents of Galway city and Furbogh are both going without water this afternoon due to burst mains.

A burst water main on the Knocknacarra road is causing water outages in multiple neghbourhoods on the east side of Galway city.

Irish water have said that residents in the area of the Knocknacarra Road, Kingston Road, Shangort Road, Lower Clybaun Road, and Barna Road may see water supply disruptions while repairs are being carried out.

A second burst water main has been reported in the Furbogh area east of the city this afternoon.

It is causing water outages to people living in the area of Cnoc na Gréine and Furbogh.

Repairs are being carried out and have an estimated completion time of 6pm this evening.

In both instances people living in the area should expect that it may take 2-3 hours for full water supply to return after repairs are completed.

Anyone affected by this or with any inquires can contact Irish Water at 1850 448 448 or through twitter @IWCare.

UHG waiting list grows by over 4,500 people

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Outpatient waiting list at UHG grows by 4,500 people

The number of people on a waiting list for an outpatient appointment at University Hospital Galway has gone up by over 4,500 in the past two year.

The latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund show that there are 39,662 people on an outpatient waiting list at UHG as of January 2019.

A significant increase on 35, 138 people in January 2017.

Galway TD Anne Rabbitte said the growing number of people on a waiting list is deeply concerning and requires the immediate intervention of the Minister.

“The list has increased year on year which begs the question where will we be next year.”

She said that having a waiting list nearly 40,000 people long is “unacceptable for one of the main hospitals in the western region.”

Of those people 6,708 have been waiting more than 18 months for an appointment.

“There are negative patient experiences as a consequence of these waiting lists,” The Fianna Fáil TD added.

“There is a wider concern that time spent waiting for an appointment may delay diagnoses or treatment.”

“The government must stand over their commitment to reduce waiting times and make the necessary changes to see the lists begin to reduce,” concluded Deputy Rabbitte.

NUI Galway announces partnership tackling gender equality

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Dailynews NUI Galway announces gender equality partnership with Dress for Success
Pictured at the announcement of the NUI Galway and Dress for Success Dublin partnership were, from left, Professor Anne Scott, Vice-President for Equality and Diversity at NUI Galway, and Sonya Lennon, founder of Dress for Success Dublin.

NUI Galway has announced a new partnership with charity Dress for Success to promote gender equality in the workplace.

Working together, the university and charity are creating a programme of gender equality outreach events for International Women’s Day.

Dress for Success is a Dublin based charity promoting the economic independence of women by providing career development tools and a support network.

Since 2011, they have supported over 2,000 women with the professional clothing, skills and development opportunities needed to secure employment and achieve success.

International Women’s Day takes place on March 8, and to celebrate it NUI Galway and Dress for Success are holding a number of events along with the charity providing advice on CV preparation and looking sharp for interviews to women entering the workplace.

On Tuesday, March 7 Sonya Lennon, the founder of Dress for Success Dublin will address up to 200 students on First Steps to Success – Owning your Worth and Planning the Game Strategy.

She will talk to students about creating their personal brand, understanding their own worth, and how to optimise their career from day one.

The same day a roundtable discussion and media event on Equality in the Work Place will look at many issues including the gender pay gap.

Sonya will be joined by Dr Michelle Millar, Head of School of Political Science and Sociology, and Merit Medical’s Vice-President of European Operations, Mark Butler.

Professor Anne Scott, Vice-President for Equality and Diversity at NUI Galway said the university is delighted to work with Dress for Success to strive for gender equality in the community.

“Sonya is a great ambassador for female empowerment,” Prof Scott said, adding that Dress for Success “supports women from all social, economic, and cultural backgrounds with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities to unlock their potential”.

She concluded that this partnership is one of several initiatives the university is taking to address issues such as the gender pay gap.

The position of vice-president for equality and diversity was created in 2016 in the wake of an Equality Tribunal ruling that NUIG had discriminated against Dr Micheline Sheehy Skeffington in passing her over for promotion.

Later in May NUI Galway will hold a community outreach event designed to give women outside of Dublin a chance to make use of the services of Dress for Success.

The service provides advice and interview clothing and appropriate work wear for women who are trying to return to or gain entry to the workforce.

A team, including two stylist volunteers, will dress up to 15 women on the day. 

Sonya Lennon said it’s great to see the work NUIG has been doing to move towards full gender equality and Dress for Success is glad to play a part in that.

“We are also excited to have the opportunity to work with women in the area seeking to enter or renter the workforce, empowering them economically and giving them the tools they need to succeed.”

Galway United opening the season with Reclaiming the Dyke march to support young stars

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Briain Kelly
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Galway United sport Galway United builds up defensive line

Galway United FC are asking fans to join them on a march from Woodquay to Eamon Deacy Park in support of their young stars to open the 2019 season.

The Reclaiming the Dyke March has its roots in the earliest days of League of Ireland football in Galway when fans would make their way up the Dyke road together on the way to a match.

Afterwards they’d discuss the evening’s entertainment among themselves as they ambled back along it.

This march is a call back to nostalgia, and a show of support for the bright young talent making their start.

This year Galway United Manager Alan Murphy is launching Project DNA which aims to use every aspect of the club to nurture young talent.

“From senior management and the Galway United Co-Operative through to players, parents, officials, volunteers and fans alike.”

This Friday, February 22 Galway United are asking fans to join them on a march to the stadium ahead of the opening match against Shelbourne to show support for the young stars.

Fans will gather at The Plots in Woodquay at 6pm and march to Eamon Deacy Park for the match.

“As a club, we earnestly ask all Galway football clubs and sports fans in the city and county to support this venture,” a spokesperson for Galway United said.

“Reclaiming the Dyke will bring a carnival atmosphere to Eamonn Deacy Park on the opening night of the 2019 season.”

“We need players, parents, grandparents, men, women, boys and girls with us on the night to support our local stars.”

Task Force to be set up for Galway social housing delivery issues

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Galway receives over €1 million to refurbish vacant social housing

A Task Force is being set up in Galway to tackle difficulties in delivering social housing targets.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy announced the Task Force this week when he published the amount of new social housing delivered in each council area in 2018.

According to Minister Murphy there were 21 new social housing units built in Galway city last year, with 66 more built in the county.

Three void homes in the city were renovated along with 10 in the county.

The city council acquired a further 28 existing homes to add to its housing stock and the county council acquired 27.

There were 30 homes in the city in the Rental Accommodation Scheme, with 537 recorded under the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme.

In Galway county just six new homes were recorded under the RAS with 352 recorded as part of HAP.

All told, Minister Murphy said 8,422 homes were added to Ireland’s stock of social housing last year.

Minister Murphy said that the new Task Force for Galway will help to address “significant delivery challenges” that have been endemic in the west.

The Housing Delivery Task Force will be led by former Secretary General at the department Ms Geraldine Tallon.

Ms Tallon is current leading a similar task force in Cork which has helped Cork City Council deliver 117% of their build target and Cork County Council 126% of their build target according to the Department of Housing.

Ask the experts your questions about diabetes at city workshop

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news €1.6 million given to diabetes research at NUI Galway

Ask the experts your questions about diabetes at this workshop in Galway city next week.

Diabetes Ireland is organising a roundtable workshop with four experts in different fields of study to demystify the condition.

On the night each expert will give a five minute speech on their topic and then spend 15 minutes going round for Q&A sessions with people in attendance.

Professor Sean Dineen is a consultant endocrinologist who will be discussing – ‘Medical Management of Diabetes’.

Ms Ciara Heverin is a Senior Dietician who will be speaking about the ‘Lastest Dietary Guidelines for Managing Diabetes’.

Brita Jordan is nurse and diabetic specialist. Her talk is on – ‘Understanding your Numbers; Why Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and Glucose Levels are so Important’.

And lastly Senior Podiatrist Ms Emma Hynes will talk about ‘Tips for Self-Management of your Feet’.

This workshop is taking place at the Connacht Hotel from 7:30 – 9:30pm on Thursday, February 28.

Attendance is free but there are only 48 spaces available.

To book a spot call organiser Regina Patron on 071-9146001 or email wro@diabetes.ie

Supreme Court making legal history by sitting in Galway for the first time

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Supreme Court making history with first ever visit to Galway

The Supreme Court is making Irish legal history by making it first trip west by sitting at NUI Galway next month.

This is the first time the Supreme Court has sat outside a courthouse since returning to the Four Courts in 1932.

It’s also just the third occasion in the history of the state that the court has sat outside of Dublin.

To mark this occasion in legal history NUI Galway is organising a series of events celebrating the history and role of the court.

A public event on ‘Women on Supreme Courts’ will take place on Tuesday, March 5 as part of the university’s programme of events for International Women’s Day.

At this event current and former Supreme Court Justices from around the world will speak about the contribution of women to decisions made in the highest courts of the land.

Members of the court will also hold a series of seminars with law students which will give them a unique opportunity to ask the justices about questions of law.

And Chief Justice Frank Clarke will deliver an address on Monday, March 4 to the legal community on ‘The Common Law Post-Brexit’

Dr Charles O’Mahony, Head of the School of Law at NUI Galway said they’re looking forward to welcoming the court for its first ever sitting in the west of Ireland.

He added that the occasion, and the programme of events which they have organised to go with it, are an incredible learning opportunity for law students.

“Chief Justice Frank Clarke is to be commended for initiatives such as this, which promote greater understanding of the role of the Supreme Court and the important work it does.”

The court is coming to Galway in March to hear the ongoing saga of the Apple Athenry data centre case.

Apple announced almost a year ago that it had abandoned plans for an €850 million data centre project in Athenry after years of judicial review.

However the appeal against planning permission for the project is ongoing before the Supreme Court between the appellants and multiple state bodies.

Mobile phone and internet tower for East Galway gets approval

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Mobile tower plans to address broadband "blackspot" near Recess

Permission has been granted for a mobile telecoms tower outside Ballinasloe to improve phone and internet services in the area.

Cignal Infrastructure Ltd have received planning permission for a 24m telecommunications mast at Pollboy Business Park to serve mobile operators in East Galway.

The 24 metre high lattice structure will carry antennae and satellite dishes for mobile networks, with a 2.4 metre palisade fence surrounding it.

Cignal Infrastructure is a new telecoms infrastructure provider operating since 2015.

It owns and maintains towers and fibre networks for operators such as eir, Three, Vodafone, and others to use for their phone and internet services.

This tower near Ballinasloe is meant as a multi-operator site for eir and Imagine who are actively looking to expand their coverage in the area.

The application notes that East Galway is “insufficiently developed” in its telecommunications infrastructure.

This development will “enhance the mobile phone and wireless broadband services in the area” Cignal said.

This mast is situated on the northwest boundary of a site at Pollboy Business Park that has an existing technical school and creche.

The county council said that the company must set up an independent system to monitor radiation levels from the mast to ensure it stays withing guidelines.

The council also said that Cignal should work with other mobile telecoms operators to locate their antennae on this mast where reasonable.

Planning permission was granted for the mast with a total eight conditions attached.

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