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Galway bartender’s amazing cocktail could become a true classic around the world

By
Michael Malone
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A bartender at The Front Door Pub has become the first Galwegian to reach the final stages of the prestigious BACARDÍ® Legacy Cocktail Competition.

Aileen Cunningham’s amazing ‘Varadero Vibes’ will go up against other cocktails in the competition, which challenges bartenders from around the world to find the BACARDÍ rum cocktail with the greatest potential to become a true classic that stands the test of time.

galway cocktail front door pub galway daily

Aileen, a Furbo native and fully-qualified interior architect, offers a wealth of hospitality experience and accolades to her name for her cocktail-making skills.

She has also attended the highly acclaimed Dublin Bar Academy, receiving a formal qualification in mixology.

The next round of the BACARDÍ® Legacy Cocktail Competition takes place in Dublin, on Monday 18 February and, if successful, Aileen will go on to represent Ireland in the global leg of the competition.

Speaking of her achievements in the BACARDÍ® Legacy cocktails, Aileen said: “Needless to say I’m thrilled to be a finalist in such a prestigious cocktail competition.

“Varadero Vibes is a really special drink that I think can become a real industry classic.

Thank you to all the team and customers in The Front Door Pub, along with family and friends for their well wishes and support so far.”

Aileen’s cocktail creation ‘Varadero Vibes’ is a taste of that that holiday buzz we all love, combining Bacardi Cuatro, fresh watermelon juice, lime, agave, mezcal, black pepper and garnished with a slice of watermelon and zest of lime.

How to make Varadero Vibes

Just grab..

50ml Bacardi cuatro

50ml watermelon juice

15ml lime

10ml agave

3 dashes mezcal

4 twists black pepper

 

Then shake well and fine strain over ice into a tall slim glass

Garnish with a watermelon slice and lime zest

Tackling harmful social media content is about child safety Galway TD insists

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Social media overload makes people susceptible to Covid-19 misinformation NUIG study shows

Tackling harmful online content is a matter of child safety according to one Galway TD spearheading an effort to create an independent regulator for social media.

Galway West TD and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications Hildegarde Naughton is pushing the Digital Safety Commissioner Bill start regulating social media.

According to the Fine Gale TD almost 40 of children between 8 and 10 years talk to strangers online, while half use social media and messaging apps.

That information was found in a poll of 1,200 minors carried out by CyberSafeIreland.

Crucially, according to Hildegarde Naughton, a third of kids online have never talked to their parents about online safety.

She said these findings are “troubling” and the the issue is being taken “very seriously” by the committee.

The Digital Safety Commissioner Bill would create “an independent regulator to combat harmful or illegal content on social media,” she said.

The planned independent regulator would have the power to issue take down orders for content on social media deemed harmful.

“The definition of harmful communication is therefore key,” Deputy Naughton explained.

“We cannot and don’t wish to police content that we may find distasteful, but which is not necessarily harmful.”

“Any move to do so would be contrary to the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.”

Deputy Naughton said that the Communications Committee have completed their scrutiny of the Bill and will be reporting to the Dáil in the coming weeks.

Over the course of its work drafting this the Committee has heard from representatives of CyberSafeIreland, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC), Google and Facebook.

Deputy Naughton said that she hopes the bill will pass quickly through the Dáíl, but that legislation is only one part of the solution.

“The Government can only legislate so far. Parents, educators and the tech industry will also have a role to play if we are to tackle the issue of children’s online safety,” she said.

NUI Galway President back city council call for reversal of cuts to higher education funding

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news

NUI Galway has welcomed a motion by the city council calling for increased investment in higher education.

A motion was passed at a meeting of the city council calling on the government to implement the funding plan for higher education laid out in the Cassells Report published in 2016.

The council that the next budget must begin to increase the core funding per student in higher education which has been cut in half in the past ten years.

It was noted by the council that “We recognise and assert that our third level graduates are an essential ingredient of economic growth and, unless investment in third level is increased, we will damage the future competitiveness of the Irish economy and of our society as a whole.”

The number of students in higher education nationally has gone up from 25,000 in 1969 to over 181,000 students now.

Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh President of NUI Galway welcomed the council’s recognition of the role they play in Galway.

“We are grateful for this motion and for this recognition from the Council that the University is a major contributor to the city and that investment in third level is critical to our collective future.”

“If society believes education and third level education in particular is a good thing then we need to find a way to pay for it” he added.

Central Bank bans financial partner for misappropriation of client funds

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Former financial partner banned for misappropriation of client funds

The former partner at a financial brokerage in Galway has been barred from holding any role at a financial company again for the misappropriation of client funds.

The Central Bank investigation into misappropriation by Mr Tarpey came on the back of information received in a protected disclosure.

The Central Bank said that Paul Tarpey, formerly the Director of Costello & Tarpey Financial services didn’t act “honestly, ethically, or with integrity” in his dealings.

Costello & Tarpey Financial Services, formerly operating out of Briahill House, has since been dissolved.

An indefinite ban is the most serious outcome the Central Bank can impose under the fitness and probity regime.

Under its terms Mr Tarpey is barred from carrying out any controlled functions, including pre-approval controlled functions, in any regulated financial service provider.

Seana Cunningham, Director of Enforcement and Anti-Money Laundering said, “The Central Bank has a duty to uphold standards in respect of those working in the industry for the benefit and protection of users of financial services.”

“This case should serve as a reminder that the Central Bank will prohibit people who act dishonestly,” he added.

“This outcome is also notable, as it is the first time that we have exercised our discretion to publish full reasons for a prohibition.”

Future of new Merlin Park Hospital in doubt after hospice decision Taoiseach says

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Taoiseach Varadkar meeting with local businesses in Ballinasloe visit

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar cast doubt on the future of a new hospital at Merlin Park in comments made in the Dáil this week.

The Taoiseach said that the recent decision to refuse planning permission for Galway Hospice on the site of Merlin Park will play heavily into any decisions made.

“Merlin Park as a solution for new hospital developments must be considered in the light of planning problems at the site where planning permission for the hospice has just been refused.”

He remarked that “very sadly and unfortunately” An Bord Pleanála had chosen to overturn planning permission granted for Galway Hospice.

A report by Saolta Hospital Group published last month identified Merlin Park as the preferred site for future hospital developments in Galway.

Taoiseach Varadkar was answering a question from Galway West TD Catherine Connolly about plans for delivering modular theatre units for Merlin Park hospital and the need for an entirely new hospital.

Deputy Connolly said that healthcare services in Galway are under extreme pressure “where the main hospital is creaking at the seams on a congested site.”

She was critical of the extremely slow pace that’s been evident in just delivering the modular theatre units for.

“We are going piecemeal and piecemeal, and we cannot even provide modular theatres, which are not the answer. The answer is a new hospital,” Deputy Connolly said.

Minister cuts the ribbon on €35 million student accommodation apartments

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news NUIG seeks approval to use student accommodation for tourists

Minister of State Seán Kyne officially opened Galway’s newest major student accommodation development today.

The €35 million Goldcrest Village will provide 429 sorely needed beds for students as a shortage of purpose built student accommodation puts strain on the private rental sector.

Located on NUI Galway grounds at North Campus next to Corrib Village, Goldcrest represents the first of two new purpose built students residences to serve Galway students.

Named after the smallest bird in Ireland which can often be seen flitting around the campus at NUI Galway, Goldcrest started accepting students last September.

Minister Kyne performed the official opening on Friday, saying the benefits of bringing in so much student accommodation would be felt far and wide.

“It provides students with quality, modern accommodation that will enable them to experience life on campus. It helps to ensure more accommodation for other households in Galway and it adds to the vibrancy of our city and county.”

“I’m certain Goldcrest Village will provide comfortable and secure accommodation for students of NUI Galway for many years to come,” Seán Kyne finished.

Funded by NUI Galway with a loan from the European Investment Bank, Goldcrest village has 429 beds spread across 76 apartments.

The €35 million complex covers 12,500sq metres, with each group of apartments grouped around landscaped courtyards.

Goldcrest Village has also just been shortlisted for the Irish Construction Excellence Awards 2019 in the Commercial €10m + category.

It’s hoped the second phase of this project constructing two purpose built student accommodation residences will be ready to start accepting students in 2021.

It will add an additional 680 bed spaces for students, bring the total number of NUI Galway students living on campus to almost 2,000.

NUI Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said, “The quality of our student experience is at the very core of our mission as a university.”

“This new home for our students represents a strategic response by NUI Galway to demand for housing in Galway and the need to provide on-campus student accommodation for our students, while also taking pressure off the Galway housing market.”

“We also join with our students in calling on our Government to continue to ensure equity and fairness in the housing market.”

Eight new medtech start-ups get a leg up from NUI Galway

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Eight medtech start-ups being supported by BioExcel programme at NUI Galway this year

The BioExcel accelerator programme at NUI Galway is pushing new innovations by launching eight medtech start-ups this year.

Following on from an incredible first year in 2018, BioExcel launched an intense recruitment drive last December looking for medtech innovators.

Out of an incredibly high calibre of candidates from around the world, eight final companies have been immersed in the BioExcel programme.

Each company will receive $95,000 in seed money along with six months of mentoring and training, introductions to potential investors, and access to state of the art lab space at NUI Galway.

Fiona Neary, co-founder of the BioExcel programme said their goal is to bridge the gap between Medtech start-ups and the investment community by getting the technology past its risky early stages and helping to raise money.

“BioExel has positioned itself as an internationally recognised Medtech accelerator with the reputation of significantly enhancing indigenous Medtech start-ups by providing attractive seed investment funding and a pipeline of next generation Medtech start-up’s for Ireland.”

The eight companies being supported at BioExcel 2019 cover a wide range of areas where medtech can improve on current healthcare options.

  • CortechsConnect Ltd, an Irish based company founded by Áine Behan and Fred Herrera is developing a non-pharmacological Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) intervention.
  • Declan Trumble of Kudos Health. An Irish based company developing a Health and Wellness engagement platform.
  • Idicula Mathew of Hera Health Solutions, a US based company developing a Biodegradable Female Contraceptive Implant
  • Chris Duke and Michael Newell, Lifestyle Medical, an Irish based company developing Knee kinematics performance and rehabilitation technology
  • Liam McMorrow, Adelie Health, a UK technology and new Irish start-up, developing an innovative Smart Insulin Pen.
  • Blaine Doyle, Glow Dx, an Irish company with an export market in place developing an Infectious Disease Diagnostic Platform.
  • Rory Clerkin and Morris Black, Holywood Medical, an Irish based company developing Migraine prediction assay (predicts the onset of migraine) for preventative medicine in this space.
  • Damien Kilgannon, Sula Health, an Irish based company developing a solution in the area of Circadian Rhythm (Sleep) Disorder Treatment.

This new cohort of companies will take part in the BioExel accelerator programme until June 2019, preparing them to be investor ready or to have investment in place.

Joe Healy is the Divisional Manager at Enterprise Ireland, one of the partners funding BioExcel.

He said that the West if Ireland has achieved a global reputation for innovation and investment in the medtech sector.

“The sector is an important contributor to our economic growth and BioExel is uniquely positioned to provide essential support for the new innovative start-ups in this sector.

“We are delighted to continue our support for the programme, and the companies who take part as they take their first steps towards building scale and expanding their reach.”

Multiple power outages leave over 100 homes without electricity

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily news More than 15,000 properties in Galway without power after Storm Ellen

Multiple power outages have left over 100 homes in Galway without power today.

Two power outages have been reported by the ESB on the Connemara coast today.

Just over 80 homes in the Screeb after have lost power as a result of the line faults.

A separare power outage in the village of Cong on the Galway-Mayo has left 63 homes without electricity.

The ESB is giving an estimated time for power to be restored to all homes of 2pm this afternoon.

Expansion of Ballinasloe medical devices manufacturer approved

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news planning permission granted for expansion to medical devices manufacturer in Ballinasloe

A proposed extension to a medical devices manufacturing facility in Ballinasloe has been granted planning approval.

Sumodics, formerly known as Creagh Medical, operates a facility in the IDA Business Park in Ballinasloe manufacturing catheter components for the medical devices industry.

The existing facility consists of a factory and offices with dedicated car parking.

This fresh application sought planning permission for a two storey extension to the east of the existing factory with a floor area of 269sq metres and additional car parking.

When Sumodics acquired Creagh Medical in 2015 it began a €7 million investment to expand and improve on the facility.

The company also announced plans in 2016 for massive expansion of the workforce, adding 100 new jobs to the prior staff of 32.

Galway county council granted planning permission for this extension with a total of eight conditions attached.

Before any work

Salthill Prom closed due to flooding from Storm Erik

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Storm Bram road closures

The Salthill Promenade closed this morning due to flooding from Storm Erik.

Galway city council announced that the combination of the high tide and storm force winds from Storm Erik caused water to overtop in Satlhill.

The Promenade has been closed from Grattan Road to Leisureland because of flood waters on the street.

Storm water has also made its way into Toft Park according to the city council.

https://www.facebook.com/GalwayCityCouncil/videos/403437697074066/

 

Road crews from the city council will continue to monitor the situation and reopen the road when appropriate.

A status orange weather warning for Galway put in place die to Storm Erik will remain in place until 1pm today.

Though Galway was warned of potentially damaging storm force gusts of up to 130km/hr on exposed coasts, winds from Storm Erik turned out not to be as bad as predicted.

The strongest winds recorded by Mace Head weather station were 120km/hr at 6am this morning.

A yellow rainfall warning for Galway, Mayo, and Donegal will remain in place until midnight tonight.

A yellow weather warning for the rest of Ireland expired at 6am this morning.

Currently, Met Eireann is forecasting strong winds to remain throughout the west today, with widespread showers and longer spell of rain lasting into tonight.

Galway’s youth orchestra is on a recruitment drive

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily life & style Galway's youth orchestra on recruitment drive
15/11/2018 Repro free: Symphonic Waves at the Galway 2020 ‘Get Involved’ event in the Printworks, Market Street. Guests were invited to the historic building to get a chance to peek inside preparations and exciting project developments as Galway gears up for its designation as European Capital of Culture in 2020. As well as getting a taste of what’s to come from Galway 2020, guests were treated to the first launch of the bold and vibrant new Galway 2020 branding. . Photo:Andrew Downes, xposure

Galway’s homegrown youth orchestra Symphonic Waves is looking to expand its roster with the best young musicians in the west.

The orchestra is calling young, enthusiastic wind, brass, or percussion players from Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Clare or Limerick to get tuned in and get involved.

Symphonic Waves is a West of Ireland Youth Orchestra which was set up in 2017 as part of Galway 2020 in collaboration with Music Generation Galway County.

In December an open call was put out for young musicians who wanted to help take this exciting initiative to the next level.

The next audition with conductor James Cavanaugh will take place on February 17 in Claregalway.

They are  looking for players of the following Instruments:

Brass – French horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba
Woodwind – Flute, oboe, clarinet and Bassoon
Percussion – Timpani and general percussion.

For more information about Symphonic Waves or the audition process call 091 87455.

Salthill’s famous Galleon Restaurant to reopen tomorrow

By
Michael Malone
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galleon restaurant

The Galleon Restaurant in Salthill is set to reopen tomorrow, 8 February, after the restaurant closed down two weeks ago.

This will come as a welcome surprise to customers and staff after the restaurant closed its doors after 53 years in business.

Former General Manager of the restaurant Ger Lyons, who joined the Galleon team in 1996 to clean tables – says she is looking forward to opening the restaurant tomorrow.

She said that over the last fortnight, messages of support have been pouring in from all across Galway and beyond as locals recalled decades of family gatherings and celebrations in the Salthill restaurant.

Ger moved on from cleaning tables to waitressing, before being appointed supervisor, senior supervisor and then general manager.

“The Galleon has been a huge part of my life for more than two decades. I was lucky enough to be trained by a wonderful team and they taught me everything about the business. The Galleon has been a real institution in Salthill over the last 54 years and I am proud to have been part of that,” Ger said.

“The last couple of weeks have been difficult for everyone but we have been so moved by the messages and calls from locals, customers and friends. I am delighted to be in a position to captain the ship and to take The Galleon on its next journey and we’re really looking forward to the next chapter.

“Here at The Galleon, we’ve been making friends, memories and great food since 1965 and that’s never going to change,” she added.

Road crews on standby for flooding ahead of Storm Erik

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Galway Daily news Status Orange weather warning issued for Storm Isha

Road crews are on standby to deal with any possible flooding in Galway city as Storm Erik is set to hit Galway in the early hours of Friday morning.

A status orange weather warning is in effect for Glway, Mayo, and Donegal as Met Eireann warns that Storm Erik could bring winds of up to 130km/hr, possibly stronger on exposed coast.

The warning is in effect in Galway from 5am on Friday morning until 1pm in the afternoon.

There is also a risk of flooding as the storm lines up with predicted high tides.

The weather assessment team at Galway city council have analysed the latest information from Met Éireann and the OPW Tide & Surge site and have been in contact with the  Galway Harbour master.

The council has said that its road crews will be on standby to deal with any spot flooding caused by high winds and heavy rain.

The public is being urged to avoid any exposed shores on Friday morning while Storm Erik passes over the west.

A yellow weather warning is in place for the rest of Ireland but will last only an hour, expiring at 6am on Friday.

No sight of a resolution as nurses strike for a third day

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news No end in sight after third day of nurses strike

Nurses and Midwives took to the same pickets in Galway today for their third day of strikes with no end in sight.

Public expressions of support remained strong for nurses protesting outside University Hospital Galway today at the end of the first week of industrial action.

Nurses are striking over and working conditions which they have led to a serious staffing crisis at hospitals that is putting patient safety at risk.

In Galway protests were held at UHG, Merlin Park Hospital, Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe, Brackernagh Health Centre Ballinasloe and Shantalla Health Centre.

 

https://www.facebook.com/galwaydaily/videos/2215783488741486/

 

The ongoing standoff if having a serious knock on effect for patients as the HSE has said that 80,000 appointments have no been cancelled as a result of the strikes.

But the INMO has been resolute that this is about long term patient care, and that ongoing understaffing poses a serious threat to patient safety.

Feelings of anger are running strong over feeling that the government is refusing to engage in a meaningful dialogue to solve the crisis.

General Secretary of the INMO Phil Ní Sheaghdha has said the union has received no further communication from the government aimed at resolving the dispute.

Nurses are seeking a 12 percent pay increase to bring them inline with other professionals like physiotherapists.

Both Health Minister Simon Harris and Minister for Public Expenditure Pascal Donoghue have said this week that they cannot cave on pay demands that go outside of the public sector pay deal.

Over €850,000 granted for local access roads maintenance in Galway

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Galway receives over €850,000 for local access roads maintenance

Galway has been allocated €856,959 for maintenance and repairs to rural, local access roads that don’t fall under the jurisdiction of the county council.

The Local Improvement Scheme has allocated a total of €10 million for work on local access roads this year, with Galway receiving the single largest grant.

However this year’s investment represents a drop of more than €80,000 on last year when Galway received €942,000.

The Scheme funds up to 90% of the cost or repairs and improvements to local roads leading to areas where there are five or fewer residents, and 85% percent where there are six or more residents.

As they don’t fall under the control of the county council these roads are the ones that are worst hit by damage from weather and under investment.

Galway-Roscommon TD Eugene Murphy said despite their status as small local roads, these are essential connections to homes and businesses in rural Galway.

“These roads give access to homes, farmyards, agricultural land and business premises, and are heavily used, but because they fall outside of direct local authority control, many of these roads need urgent upgrading and improvement works.

The upgrading work will have a significant impact once re-surfacing starts,” Deputy Murphy finished.

Receiver appointed to shareholder in Galway Clinic dispute

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Receiver appointed to company connected to Galway clinic dispute

A receiver has been appointed to one of the shareholder companies involved in a bitter dispute about the Galway Clinic.

The British lender Glas Trust Corporation Ltd applied for a receiver to be appointed to Blackrock Medical Partners, a company connected to one of the Galway Clinic shareholders Dr Joseph Sheehan Sr.

The Chicago based Dr Sheehan has been involved in a serious dispute with Larry Goodman over shares at the clinic.

According to the Irish Independent The receivership notice said that Glas  Trust had trust over Blackrock’s assets based on a loan it gave the company.

One of those assets is the shares Blackrock Medical Partners owns in Marpole, the company behind the Galway Clinic.

Blackrock Medical Partners owns a 25 percent stake in the Galway clinic and is controlled by brothers Joseph and James Sheehan.

Joseph Sheehan has been involved in a bitter legal dispute with one of the Clinic’s other shareholders Larry Goodman and his company Pharma Investments.

The High Courty has heard that another shareholder businessman Brendan McDonald wanted to transfer his shares in Marpole to Pharma Investments.

Dr Sheehan Sr claimed that this was a breach of a shareholder agreement.

The case has generated deep antagonism between the parties involved, with James Sheehan giving evidence that the dispute has caused a breakdown in the brothers relationship.

Evidence was also heard that a son of Dr Sheehan Sr had made insulting remarks in an email about that parental status of Mr Goodman’s adopted children.

The parties are awaiting judgement after Dr Sheehan said that he would consent to a second share transfer agreement.

Contract awarded to design cutting edge marine research ship

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Contract awarded to design cutting edge research ship for marine institute

The Marine Institute has chosen Norwegian ship design consultants Skipsteknisk AS to design a new cutting edge marine research ship that will be based out of Galway.

When it’s ready the state of the art 50m long ship will serve as the sister ship to the Marine Institute’s RV Celtic Explorer.

Expected to hit the in 2022, the as yet unnamed research vessel will be able to operate in the harsh conditions of the North Atlantic for expeditions of up to three weeks.

It will also feature a centre to control a remote operated vehicle (ROV) that will enable researchers to explore depths of up to 3000m.

Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute said the new vessel marks a major milestone in the Institute’s commitment to providing world class marine science.

“The significantly enhanced capabilities of the new research vessel will help researchers, educators, students and the public gain a richer understanding of our ocean and will facilitate exploration that will lead to discoveries that stretch the bounds of our imagination.”

Based in Galway, the vessel will be used by the Marine Institute and other State agencies and universities to undertake ocean monitoring, assessing fish stocks, and furthering efforts to survey the seabed.

It is replacing the RV Celtic Voyager, brought into service in 1997 as Ireland’s first ever purpose built research ship.

Mick Gillooly, Director of Ocean Science and Information services at Marine Institute said that marine equipment has changed drastically since then, hence the need for the upgrade.

“The new vessel will enable us all to more efficiently explore, collaborate, and conduct global ocean research” added Dr Heffernan.

Once the design phase is complete, the next phase in this three-year project funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, is to tender for a shipyard to construct the vessel.

This is expected to be complete by year end, with delivery of the new vessel expected early 2022.

Minister for the Marine Michael Creed welcomed the step forward saying, “There are many challenges posed and threats in relation to our oceans and research is an intrinsic part of formulating a sustainable approach to the use, understanding and management of our oceans.”

Damaging winds to batter Galway as Storm Erik approaches

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily weather Rough weekend forecast as weather warning issued by Met Eireann

Met Eireann have issued an orange weather warning for Galway and two other counties warning of severe and damaging winds as Storm Erik approaches from the Atlantic.

Friday will be rough morning in Galway, Mayo, and Donegal as Storm Erik is set to pass over the West of Ireland through the early hours of the day.

A status orange weather warning will be in effect from 5am on Friday morning until 1pm that afternoon.

Average winds of 65 to 80 km/hr are expected with more warnings of more severe and damaging gusts of up to 130km/hr, possibly even stronger than that in coastal areas.

There’s also the risk that the storm force winds will be bring flooding in coastal areas due to high seas.

A status yellow weather warning is in place for the whole of Ireland on Friday, but will expire at 6am.

Met Eireann says there will be heavy rainfall in the early hours of the day here in Galway, giving way to sunny spells and isolated showers later as Storm Erik tracks east.

A patient’s letter to striking nurses – ‘I love you all and so does the majority of this nation’

By
Michael Malone
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Galway Daily news Nurses vote to accept deal that ended strike

As the nurses stage the third day of strike action for better pay and working conditions, one patient, who had her surgery cancelled on Tuesday, has written a letter saying the nurses are our only chance of having a decent health service.

Hello,
I have listened to radio and TV reports for past few weeks. A lot of them condemning nurses and midwives for so many cancelled surgeries on the days of the strike.

My own surgery that was scheduled for Tuesday 5th Feb was cancelled. I have been waiting on my surgery for almost 4 years at this stage .

But you see my surgery wasn’t just cancelled today. My surgery has been cancelled a total of 5 times in the past 2 years alone.

Today was the first day it was cancelled supposedly because of the strike action by nurses.

And so what did I do? Did I vent my anger at nurses?

I rang my daughter.

She collected me and my ailing zimmer frame and we both stood in solidarity with the nurses and midwives of this country.

It is they who are fighting our corner.

The government will fill the ears of any one who listens to them, with lies and propaganda. It’s sickening to say the least.

I tried my best to get onto radio 1 to tell the truth but they just wanted people who were against nurses to talk. I was ignored.

I know I won’t be fooled by radio or TV talk shows that are spinning government lies. I know my surgery has been cancelled 5 times and I can tell you this, it certainly isn’t our nurses fault.

The blame lies solely at the hands of our incompetent government who don’t give a damn about me or people in my position or nurses. They could not care less about us.

They are constantly cancelling surgeries for thousands of people and yet try to blame nurses for two days of cancellations.
I 100% stand with the nurses.

They are our only chance of all of us ever having a decent health service. I know they are doing this for all of us.

Nurses and Midwives, I love you all and so do the majority of this nation.

Thank You for standing up to this criminal government.

You are the bravest and most couragous of angels! I wish you all the success in the world.

My daughter e-mailed Simon Harris and Leo Varadkar saying the exact same thing.

This government should hang their heads in shame.

Keep up the fight nurses and midwives of Ireland.

Yours sincerely,

Anna

One in five Galway homes have a high level of cancer-causing radon gas

By
Michael Malone
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0
galway daily radon gas

Landlords will be required to test their property for radon gas and take action if it is detected, if a new bill which was announced this week is passed.

Galway has one of the highest levels of radon gas exposure in the country with one in five homes in the City estimated to exceed acceptable levels of the gas, according to the EPA.

People living in these homes – which exceed the EPA’s reference Level of 200 Bq/m3 – are believed to have a 1 in 50 chance of developing lung cancer.

The Healthy Homes Bill was announced by the Green Party this week and the party’s Galway West candidate Pauline O’Reilly called for cross-party support from all elected representatives in the constituency for the bill.

Radon is a colourless, odourless but radioactive gas that’s believed to responsible for as many as 250 deaths per year through lung cancer, which is more than road traffic accidents.

Pauline O’Reilly said: “The EPA’s Radon Map identifies Galway city as one of the areas with the highest radon activity with over 20% of homes believed to exceed the Reference Level of 200 bequerel per cubic metre (Bq/m3).”

The Galway West candidate believes the bill can help address this significant public health issue.

“The tragedy with radon gas is that in many cases the first time a family finds out it is a problem in their house is when someone gets a lung cancer diagnosis.

“At the moment, there is no legal requirement for landlords to test their homes for radon.  Considering testing generally costs less than €50, we believe this is a small price for landlords to pay to ensure they’re providing safe and healthy homes for their tenants”.

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