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Planning authority overturns permission for new Galway Hospice

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

Plans for a new Galway Hospice facility on the grounds of Merlin Park Hospital have been overturned by An Bord Pleanála.

Galway Hospice was granted permission for the new 36 bed facility by the city council last August after the land was rezoned by the council to allow it to progress.

That decision was appealed to the higher planning authority on environmental grounds.

The new hospice facility was designed to have a 36 bed Residential Care Unit, double what Galway Hospice currently has, along with daycare and therapy facilities.

Galway Hospice have been looking for a new home for a long time as the current facility at Renmore are under incredible strain.

An Bord Pleanála notified parties involved in the appeals process of its decision in the past day.

Friends of Merlin Woods environmental group, one of the parties who appealed the decision, have said that they are not opposed to the construction of the new hospice.

The group’s position is that there are many other more suitable locations on Merlin Park Hospital’s 84 acre site.

Chief Executive of the Galway Hospice Foundation Mary Nash said that they were disappointed with the board’s decision as they have been looking for a new site for 10 years.

The chosen site would have been ideal for their uses as it would have been a calm green environment, and allow easy transfer of patients to and from the main hospital.

She added that they will take their time to review An Bord Pleanála’s decision and look at their options, including sourcing a new site.

“The hospice will continue with its plans for a new hospice to ensure it is there to provide first class palliative care services and support to patients and their families at a very vulnerable time in their lives.”

According to Friends of Merlin Woods the planning authority considered in its decision that “the subject site is an area of significant biodiversity value” and that the removal of 0.68 hectares of the grasslands and meadows would be inappropriate.

The group said the board also considered in its decision that the development would contravene the land’s zoning under the city development plan.

Family deeply concerned for missing Galway man

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Missing Galway man Roland Mitchell found safe

Gardaí are appealing for information about a Galway city man missing since Saturday.

Roland Mitchell (26) is missing from the Fr Griffin road, he was last seen at 7pm om Saturday.

He was reported missing by his family who are deeply concerned for his well being.

He is described as being 5ft 11”, with a slim build and brown/sandy hair.

When he was last seen he wearing a black denim jacket, blue jeans and black shoes.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact Galway Garda Station 091 576 257 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

US software company to create new jobs in Galway

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news

The US based software group Sedgwick will be creating new jobs in Galway as part of a major expansion of its Irish offices.

The software company will be adding 250 new jobs to its Irish workforce which currently stands at 400.

These new positions will be spread around its seven offices in Ireland including Liosbain Business Park in Galway.

The software company is looking for people to fill positions in customer service, sales, claims, property, liability, accident and health insurance as well as corporate finance, technology and compliance.

Chief Executive of Sedgwick Ireland Malcolm Hughes said the new jobs creation is the result of “successful growth and performance of our Irish operation,” and the he expects this growth to continue.

“We see growth being driven by a strong pipeline of new business projects, responding to our growing client demands, and a demand for managed solutions in anticipation of Brexit,” he added.

Recruitment for the new positions will begin immediately and they will be filled out over the next two years.

Sedwick has secured a contract with Irish Life Health as one of its preferred service providers and will set up an office in Dublin to provide international services in IT and finance.

The US based company employs more than 21,000 staff across 65 countries providing services for the insurance industry.

Nurses take to the picket line in second day of industrial action

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway’s nurses and midwives have taken to the picket lines again this morning to protest unfair pay and working conditions.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is leading a nationwide strike of almost 40,000 nurses today, their second day of industrial action over pay and retention issues.

Nurses and midwives in Galway are protesting outside University Hospital Galway this morning with widespread support from the public.

This is only the second nationwide strike in the history of the INMO, and has come about as nurses say that poor pay and working conditions have made it impossible to retain staff.

https://www.facebook.com/galwaydaily/videos/254064938832737/

 

Nurses rejected a proposal by Health Minister Simon Harris and Minister for Public Expenditure Pascal on Monday for new talks to resolve the dispute.

Crucially, the two minister said that the talks should address staffing levels and working conditions, but not pay which nurses have said is key to retention difficulties.

General Secretary of the INMO Phil Ní Sheaghdha said the offer was “spin masquerading as substance” and focused on issues which had already been agreed on in 2017.

Despite agreeing on those issues at the time, the INMO said that the government was unable to implement many of the proposals because they couldn’t find sufficient staff.

Meanwhile, here in Galway nurses are digging in for the long haul over today and beyond.

Gavin Mulhall, a nurse at University Hospital Galway says “We’re resolute. it’s day two of a long day, we know this but we are willing to go through with this.”

“It’s a patient safety issue,” Gavin said, “It’s a fact that it needs to be addressed and it needs to be addressed now.”

According to the HSE up to 50,000 appointments could be impacted by the ongoing strikes.

If no resolution is reached with the government then a further three day strike is planned for next week from February 12-14 when the INMO will be joined on the picket lines by the Psychiatric Nurses Association.

“Our message is clear. We will not be going away, resolving this dispute requires direct engagement from the government, recognising the real recruitment and retention problems in Irish nursing and midwifery,” Phil Ní Sheaghdha said.

“We simply want to be able to do our jobs, but our health service cannot hire enough nurses and midwives on these uncompetitive wages.”

“As ever, we remain available for talks with the government for any realistic proposals.”

Modular housing in Westside to tackle families stuck in emergency accommodation

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

Galway city council has taken an emergency step to approve the construction of 15 modular housing units to get families out of emergency accommodation.

The 15 modular units are intended for a site in Westside behind the library and will be managed by the Peter McVerry Trust for families in the city currently living in emergency accommodation.

The project was signed off on last week and presented to a special meeting of the city council on Monday.

Chief Executive of the city council Brendan McGrath used his emergency powers to approve the project.

Currently €250,000 a month is spent on 54 families forced to live in hotels and B&Bs around the city, up from just €20,000 in October 2015.

It’s projected that this project will cost €2 million and have a lifespan  of five years and be ready for use by September.

Families living in these units will sign a licence agreement with the Peter McVerry Trust for a stay of 3 – 6 months.

Director of Services with the council Dermot Mahon said that the McVerry Trust will be helping families to find somewhere to live.

But he added that if after six months residents have made no effort to find somewhere else to live then homelessness services will be withdrawn.

Between this project and a separate council initiative to provide space at Corrib Park for 12 families currently living in emergency accommodation its hoped this will help families live better.

A number of councillors expressed dissatisfaction with the short notice they got of this project.

Only three local area councillors were able to attend a meeting last Friday discussing the project after being notified on Thursday.

Dermot Mahon said this was because they had only received approval from the Department of Housing on Thursday and wanted to notify councillors as quickly as possible.

Councillor Pearce Flannery welcomed the development, saying that any family living in a hotel would jump at the chance to “alleviate some of the misery they’re in.”

Chief Executive McGrathe said that he used emergency power to approve this because he believed that if he brought it for consultation it would have been met with objections and queries that would slow up the process.

The council proposed and passes a motion calling for a workshop with the people of Westside at nearby residences, businesses, and the library explaining the project as soon as possible.

Ultimately its not expected that this will be needed an longer than five years according to Brendan McGrath, as he is confident the council will be able to fulfill its commitment to deliver 1,100 social houses by the end of 2021.

These are only “stopgap” measures meant to keep people out of emergency accommodation in the meantime he finished.

Galwegians asked to try for a Plastic Free Week to combat waste

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news City Council invites Galwegians to try for a Plastic Free Week this month
Cllr Donal Lyons with Green schools comittee from Claddagh National School for launch of Plastic Free Week. Photograph by Aengus McMahon

Galway city is encouraging people to try for a Plastic Free Week this month.

The city council is running a Plastic Free Week from February 11 – 17 to raise awareness of how much plastic we consume.

People are asked to try and find alternatives to plastics during this week, particularly single use plastics that are a plague in terms of littering and environmental damage.

As part of this year’s initiative people are encouraged to Bring our Own Lunchbox for foods that are typically packaged in single-use plastics.

Local butchers in Galway have been invited to take part in this campaign.

Primary and Secondary Schools throughout the city will be provided with packs containing facts, ideas and images to prompt discussion and raise awareness and action during Plastic Free Week and beyond.

Schools, businesses and other organisations are invited to participate in the week and try and raise environmental awareness.

For more information about the week of how you can take part contact Fiona on 091 536400 or environment@galwaycity.ie .

Spice Bag at this Galway Chinese is most ordered takeaway in Ireland!

By
Michael Malone
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SPICE BAG GALWAY CHINESE galway daily

Ireland’s favourite Chinese takeaways have been announced today to celebrate the Lunar (Chinese) New Year this week.

And amazingly, a popular Galway Chinese has come out on top as the nation’s most popular.

 

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Saturday’s @xianstreetfood ❤👏👉👉 #Repost @j_yeon503 (@get_repost) ・・・ 여기서 너가 일등이야 🎶

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Deliveroo revealed that a Spice Bag from Xian Street Food in Galway is the most ordered Chinese dish in the entire country.

Located on Quay Street Galway, Xian Street Food also has a premises at Anne Street in South Dublin.

Deliveroo’s Chinese food hall of fame in Ireland is as follows:

A spokesperson for Deliveroo said, “Our preferences for Chinese dishes have changed over the years – there was a time when 3-in-1s were the brand new thing.

“Now the legendary Spice Bag and Asian fusion are all the rage and always developing.

“While our tastes may have changed, our fascination with Chinese food never will, and we’re happy to highlight our most renowned and great-tasting restaurant partners.”

 

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Life on Quay Street @xianstreetfood open at 12 everyday 💡🍴👏™🕹 Enjoy our traditional mung bean and rye crepe filled with seriously savoury goodies including eggs, greens, and falafel or go sweet! Your choice. #dublin #galway Chilly December weathers calls for hot curries, Biang Biang Noodles, traditional Chinese dishes and of course our take on the Spice Bag with no MSG and 38 spices from Xian. Opened at 28 Anne Street South in Dublin @xianstreetfood Bringing the traditional #biangbiangnoodles to #dublincitycentre very excited to head east and bring #xianstreetfoods like our no #msg 38 blend #spicebag and of course the #traditional #chineseburger which is the oldest #burger in the world. #freshflavours with a more than a nod to #authenticchinesefood #seeyoufriday #xianstreetfood #dublin #thisisirishfood #delish #soups #curries #handpullednoodles #tastethedifference 💡🚶🚴™🍴📸

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Trek through the mountains of Spain with Galway Hospice

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Trek through the hills of Spain with Galway Hospice

Galway Hospice is organising a epic trek through the mountains of Spain this year to help raise vital funds.

This is the first International Trek being organised by the hospice through the mountainous Las Alpujarras villages of the Andalusia province of Spain this October.

The Las Alpujarras runs between Sierra Nevada and the Mediterranean Sea, with the Contraviesa Mountain range to the south.

Walking through this mountainous region, travellers will be presented with stunning vistas and those clear blue skies that visitors to Galway like to talk about.

The area is also rich in Moorish history and culture showing Spain’s diverse and fascinating past.

Galway Hospice expect to see a massive increase in the demand for their services this year, which are still highly dependent on support from the public.

They are predicting a double digit increase in the number of people supported at their palliative and day care services on 2018.

To meet this growing demand the hospice needs to raise €2 million annually to funds its services.

The International Trek will help reach that target with a week long journey from October 19 – 26.

In order to take part people need to raise at least €3,000, including a non-refundable deposit if €300.

This will cover flights, accommodation, and food each day, and a minimum of €1,500 from each participant will go towards Galway Hospice.

There’s plenty of help available for to raise funds with the team at the hospice ready to help out with posters, fliers, collection buckets, sponsorship cards and promotion on social media.

If you have any questions about this event please email the team at fundraising@galwayhospice.ie or phone 091 770868 to talk to the team during office hours 9am – 5pm.

To register online for this journey go to www.galwayhospice.ie.

HSE and Bank of Ireland face scrutiny over missing fada

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Data Commission rules no absolute right to fada

The Data Protection Commission is examining a wide ranging complaint after a man was told at the hospital that they couldn’t include the fada in his name.

Ciarán Ó Cofaigh (51), has made a complaint against the HSE, Bank of Ireland, and New Ireland Insurance after staff at University Hospital Galway said that they weren’t able to input the fada into their records.

The television producer was at UHG receiving radiotherapy treatment for cancer.

The Irish Examiner reports that the Data Protection Commission has confirmed that it is examining a complaint made by Mr Ó Cofaigh against the HSE last July, as well as complaints against the bank and its insurance subsidiary.

Mr Ó Cofaigh said that fadas on Irish names are not a stylistic feature but a functional element, and that “My name without a fada isn’t my name.”

He adds that all three of the parties named in his complaint have refused multiple requests to change his records.

The HSE and Bank of Ireland have blamed software limitations for not being able to include the síneadh fada in their records.

Though the HSE told the Examiner that they are taking steps to ensure that new software they use will be able to accept the fada.

Mr Ó Cofaigh contends that the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) gives people the legal right to have their name spelled correctly.

The Data Protection Commission has said that it is speaking with its European counterparts and the Language Commissioner here in Ireland to get an official stance on the síneadh fada.

This is the second time in recent months that state bodies have come under fire for neglecting to include fadas in official documents.

Last month the NTA faced heavy criticism for not including fadas on people’s Leap Cards, which was also blamed on technical limitations.

Nurses and midwives escalate strike action

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Nurses vote to accept deal that ended strike

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is escalating its strike action with more strike dates announced.

The Union said that it has made this decision on the back of the government’s “refusal to meaningfully engage” with them.

Roughly 37,000 member of the INMO took to the picket lines on January 30, and further strikes have already been planned for February 5, 7, and 12 – 14.

Now those plans for industrial action have been intensified with the number of services on strike this week increased from 82 to 240.

The Executive Council of the INMO has also announced extra strike dates for February 19 and 21.

Nurses are striking over issues of pay parity and working conditions which they say have made it impossible to retain staff.

“Nurses and midwives proudly stood up in defence of our patients and professions last Wednesday, but the government has responded with threats and intransigence,” said General Secretary of the INMO Phil Ní Sheaghdha.

“Everybody except the government recognises that there is a serious understaffing problem in our health services,” she said, adding that the public support displayed for strikers on Monday showed that people stand with the nurses.

At the strike outside UHG last Wednesday Amy Nugent, the manager of Mr Waffles café  brought coffee and pastries to striking nurses and midwives.

“We support the nurses. Fair play to them. It was absolutely freezing on Wednesday – of course we’d help,” she said.

We brought over flasks of hot coffee and delivered pastries every day.  It was the least we could do for our wonderful nurses.”

This is just the second nationwide strike that the INMO has led in its 100 year history.

“Our message is clear. We will not be going away – resolving this dispute requires direct engagement from the government, recognising the real recruitment and retention problems in Irish nursing and midwifery.”

After the first strike last week, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has rejected calls for an independent review of the striking nurses pay claims.

Phil Ní Sheaghdha has said that no nurse wants to go on strike, but that this is the situation they’ve found themselves in.

“We simply want to be able to do our jobs, but our health service cannot hire enough nurses and midwives on these uncompetitive wages.”

Referendum to remove divorce requirements to be held in May

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Divorce referendum to be held in May

A referendum to amend the current constitutional provisions for divorce will take place this May.

At the referendum voters will be asked whether or not to approve an amendment to Article 41.3.2 of the Constitution to remove references to the time couples have to spend living apart before getting a divorce.

Currently people seeking a divorce in Ireland has to have been living apart for four years out of the previous five.

The government intends to bring forward legislation to change that separation period to two out of three years.

Announcing the proposed change Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan said that it has been learned over time that complex social issues are better addressed through detailed legislation than the Constitution.

The referendum has been scheduled to take place in late May alongside the European and Local elections.

“Removing the time period from the Constitution would give the Oireachtas greater flexibility to legislate to ease the burden on people who have experienced the tragedy of a marriage breakdown and wish to begin again,” Minister Flanagan said.

“As it stands, the long separation period required under the Constitution frequently leads to couples seeking a judicial separation prior to obtaining a divorce with attendant legal costs and additional stress.”

The referendum will also give people the opportunity to change language referring to divorces obtained in a foreign country which has been criticised for being vague and was written in a time when divorce was still banned in Ireland.

Other passages requiring that there is no prospect of reconciliation and the provisions be made for spouses and children before granting a divorce will remain in force.

The current constitutional requirements surrounding granting a divorce were put in place at a referendum in 1995.

Prior to that divorces in Ireland were subject a blanket ban under any circumstances.

Ireland still has one of the lowest rates divorce rates in Europe.

“Sadly, however, some marriages do break down irreconcilably, causing immense sadness and stress for all concerned,” Minster Flanagan said.

“The Government wishes to ensure that the process for obtaining a divorce is fair, dignified and humane and allows both parties to move forward with their lives within a reasonable timeframe.”

This is the latest in a rapid series of referendums liberalising the country after the legalisation of gay marriage and repealing the 8th amendment.

Over 600 patients stuck on trolleys in Galway in January

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news 67 people on trolleys at UHG

There were over 600 patients stuck on trolleys in Galway’s Hospitals in January.

At University Hospital Galway 534 patients went without a bed, with a further 109 people on trolleys at Portiuncula according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

Though the January figures at UHG are down on last year and 2017, they are over 67 percent higher than 10 years ago.

Trolley numbers at Portiuncula Hospital have shifted up and down more dramatically, peaking in 2017 when there were 379 people without a bed in January.

But this year’s figure is more than twice 10 years ago when that number stood at just 46.

Nationwide there were 10,350 patients without beds in January, a 55 percent increase on 2009 according to the INMO.

These figures don’t even include January 30, when nurses were on strike.

The worst affected hospitals last month were UH Limerick (970), Cork UH (947), South Tipperary General (629), Letterkenny UH (587), and UH Waterford (547).

INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said, “Over 10,000 hospital patients didn’t even have a bed last month in Ireland’s health service.”

“At the heart of this problem is understaffing. We simply cannot recruit and retain enough nurses and midwives on these wages.”

“Ireland’s nurses and midwives are no longer prepared to tolerate these conditions, for themselves or for their patients.”

Historic shipwrecks off the west coast form dazzling artificial reefs

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Shipwrecks off the Irish coast form dazzling artificial reefs

Historic shipwrecks off the west coast of Ireland are forming beautiful artificial reefs sheltering many species normally only found in far deeper waters.

Scientists at NUI Galway, working with partners in Limerick and Ulster University found that shipwrecks are acting as refuge reefs that improve species’ resilience to human impacts and climate change.

The National Monuments Service maintains a Wreck Viewer that lists the location of 4,000 shipwrecks based on a total of 18,000 records of potential wrecks in Irish waters.

In recent years advanced scuba divers have been exploring wrecks as deep as 15o metres below the surface, but no wrecks in deeper waters have been surveyed up until now.

A mixed group of engineers and scientists from the three universities identified numerous wrecks off the coast of Kerry in waters beyond the reach of divers.

Using the Celtic Explorer as a base they successfully located and explored two large wrecks using a remote operated vehicle nicknamed Étáin.

In them they found the ships to be colonised by colourful epifauna: anemones, solitary corals, oysters and brachiopods.

But the biggest surprise was finding a colony of coral reef of Lophelia pertusa, a stony coral species usually found below 500 metres or deeper in Irish waters.

Dr Anthony Grehan of School of Natural Sciences at NUIG, and one of the ocean scientists who made the discovery, said this has major impacts on the protection of marine areas and habitat restoration.

Coral reefs have been one of the major victims of climate change affecting ocean temperatures and acidity.

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the world’s largest coral reef system stretching for 2,300km, has seen vast swathes of coral destroyed in bleaching events hastened by climate change.

“Divers report that wrecks are often festooned with corals and other species of epifauna,” Dr Grehan explained.

“As such, the wrecks act as artificial reefs and given the quantity of wrecks in Irish waters, may make an important contribution to maintaining coral and other species by providing refugia and stepping stones for further colonisation or restoration of damaged habitats.

Much-loved Galway business closes doors after 53 years

By
Cathriona Coleman
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galway daily restaurant salthill closes

A much-loved Salthill business which was in operation since 1965 closed its doors for the final time last weekend.

The Galleon Restaurant in Salthill Village ceased trading along with its sister establishments – Salt Bar and Restaurants.

The restaurant, a landmark building in the heart of Salthill, had a great reputation for delicious grub for over 70 years and was passed on to three generations of the same family.

The Salt bar directly across the road was a well-known local for many, serving a huge variety of popular craft beers.

This news came as a huge shock to many, not along the employees but particularly the locals who would have frequented the restaurants on a regular basis.

One local man said: “If people want to know any more, the best thing to do is head straight to the AIB bank here in Salthill.

“We are all just shocked at this news; the Galleon alone will be a big loss to the area, when it was doing well it brought a huge amount of business and kept people in jobs.

“In recent years it has changed hands and chefs too many times; this really was the inevitable sadly.”

Another lady working in the City for many years said: “I know someone working there and just last week the staff were called to a meeting to be told the bad news and given their notices, it’s a sad day for Galway.”

Cúirt offering young writers the chance to tour Europe’s literature festivals

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily arts & culture Creative writing courses at Galway Technical Institute

The Cúirt International Literary Festival is calling for young writers from around Europe to join a project promoting literature from in lesser known languages.

Read Me I am Yours is a joint endeavor from three major literary organisations around Europe looking for young writers who will tour Cúirt here in Galway, the Vilenica International Literary Festival in Slovenia, and the Festival of World Literature taking place in Croatia.

The emerging writers on tour will get the chance to participate in all three festivals, get the chance to spend ten days each in Galway, Ljubljana, and Zagreb this year and in 2020.

The three festivals share a common historical, social and political experience as they take place at the edges of Europe.

The overall goal of Read Me I am Yours is to promote cross-cultural understand and lesser known languages throughout Europe.

While in Galway the chosen writers will split their time between the city and its many cultural offerings, and out in Connemara to soak up some Gaeilge.

This isn’t just a sightseeing trip, but a great opportunity for emerging writers to promote their work and take it to the next level.

The project will facilitate meetings with national publishers, writers, and translators to help the selected authors make plans for future projects.

Excerpts of their work will be translated and presented on the web portal of the Read Me I am Yours project.

Applicants to the project can be writers of any genre, but must be under 35 years old and from countries participating in the Creative Europe Programme.

Those eligible countries are: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine, and the United kingdom.

The deadline for applications is February 18, and must be sent as a PDF to info@vilenica.si.

More details and a sample registration form can be found here.

Cúirt International Literary Festival that brings writers from every corner of Ireland and around the world to Galway.

This six day festival showcases Nobel Prize winning authors and gives young writers the chance to show off their work for the first time, and get a helping hand to further their work.

The 2019 Cúirt festival will run from April 8 – 14 with events on throughout Galway.

State buys Gate Lodge at Portumna Castle to further tourism plans

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Portumna castle Gate Lodge bought by state for tourism plans

An historic Gate Lodge at Portumna Castle has been bought by the state to incorporate it into plans to develop the castle as a tourist attraction.

Galway East TD Seán Canney confirmed that the Gate Lodge was put up on the open market, but the National Monuments Service bought it on behalf of the state.

The Monuments Service bought the Gate Lodge to prevent the possibility of it becoming separated from the main castle.

A lot of work has gone into Portumna Castle in recent years to make it a wonderful tourist destination.

A beautifully preserved stately home in east Galway, Portumna Castle was built in the 17th century by the 4th Earl of Clanricard, Richard Burke.

Galway Daily news Major work being done to make Portumna castle a more attractive tourist destination
Portumna Castle

Recently the Office of Public Works added a café and exhibition space to make it into a better venue for community events.

The next project in the pipeline is the development of a bus park to allow the castle to better accommodate tour groups.

“The adjacent marina is also another added attraction to the tourist potential in Portumna,” Seán Canney added.

A major upgrade to the access road leading to Portumna Castle to make it easier for visitors to reach it and the marina was undertaken three years ago.

Portumna Castle gardens

“I want to acknowledge the assistance and support of Minister Joshepa Madigan and her officials together with Minister Andrew Doyle in securing the Gate Lodge.” Deputy Canney finished.

These additions to the stately home in east Galway have the potential to bring great economic and cultural benefits to the local community in Portumna.

Historic Tuam library renovation proceeds after years of delays

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Work to start next month on Tuam Intreo Centre

The historic Tuam library building will be getting a major revamp this year after sitting empty for nearly a decade.

The Commission of Public Works has been granted planning permission to renovate and refurbish the historic library building on Shop Street in Tuam.

The building has been empty since 2010 and efforts to renovate it over the years have faced legal issues.

Planning permission was previously granted under the Part 8 process, but Chief State Solicitors Office decided this wasn’t appropriate.

A fresh application was lodged by the CPW which has now been approved by the county council.

The project will see extensive restoration work done to the historic fabric of the library, and renovations to make it an office space.

On the outside facade conservation works will be done on the wrought iron gate and historic window.

The existing cement fascia panels will be removed to reveal the original sandstone and brickwork design which will be restored.

Other external works include the replacement of multiple non-historic windows and skylights, the removal of a chimney, and the infill of a rear emergency escape.

A new entrance will be created leading to the laneway.

Inside the library work that needs to be done includes demolishing the stairs to make way for modern public areas, offices and other facilities.

This library renovations are intended to “reinstate the historic of this building and reinforce its place within the Tuam Architectural Conservation Area”.

An qualified archaeologist is required to be on site for the duration of the works to assess any potential items of archaeological interest uncovered during the renovation.

Planning permission was granted by the county council with a total of six conditions attached.

N84 roadworks to cause traffic delays until mid March

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Roadworks to disrupt traffic near Portumna on Tuesday

A section of the N84 north of Headford will be closed during the day until mid march to allow roadworks to take place.

Motorists travelling through this area should allow time for diversions and delays caused by the roadworks.

Galway county council has ordered the closure to allow sections of the road to be excavated and re-surfaced.

The closure order affects one kilometre the road between Headford and Shrule near Buncannon starting next Monday.

The road will be shut each day from 9:30am until 4:30pm to allow the roadworks to take place.

Motorists travelling on the N84  northbound are advised to divert at Headford onto the Ballinrobe road to Glencorrib and then turn right onto the L1615 to Shrule.

If going south motorists should divert towards Caherlistrane after passing through Shrule and then onto the R333 at Queally’s Public House to Headford.

This section of the N84 will be closed each day until March 15 according to the county council.

The number of families in emergency accommodation doubled in 2018

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Number of families living in emergency accommodation rises in the west

The number of families in emergency accommodation in the West of Ireland has more than doubled in the past year.

There were 81 families with 179 children who spent the Christmas period living in emergency accommodation according to the latest figures from the Department of Housing.

That’s more than twice the number in December 2017 when there 39 families with 130 children in emergency accommodation.

Karen Golden CEO of the Galway Simon Community said that the skyrocketing number are a disturbing trend.

“What is most alarming about these figures is that they continue to double year on year,” she said adding that in December 2016 that figure stood at just 18 families.

“We would hate to think that we could have 160 families in emergency accommodation by Christmas 2019.”

Galway Simon saw an incredible demand on its services as more and more people face homelessness, or cannot find a new place to live.

“With the availability of safe and affordable housing continuing to diminish, it is increasingly difficult to support clients to find suitable accommodation so that they can move out of homelessness,” Karen Golden said.

She added that that the shortage of housing stock, particularly affordable and social housing, is not being addressed urgently enough by the government to tackle this crisis.

“The Government target for new social housing builds in Galway was 160 for 2018. Up until September, only 37 new social homes had been completed.”

“With 3,547 households on the social housing waiting list in Galway, this is totally inadequate.”

Over the past year the Galway Simon Community has supported supported 550 households, including 132 families with 292 children through homelessness prevention and housing services.

The group expects 2019 to be even more challenging as the homelessness crisis continues to deteriorate.

“Behind each of these numbers is a human story, a person experiencing the trauma of homelessness or the threat of homelessness,” said Karen Golden.

“With pressure in housing continuing to increase in Galway, we will continue to support those who seek our help in the coming year.”

Galway Food Tours wins big at Irish Tourism Awards

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily news Galway Food Tours named best Food and Beverage experience in Ireland

Galway Food Tours was crowned the Best Food and Beverage Experience in Ireland at the Irish Tourism Industry Awards this week.

Founded by Sheila Dignam, Galway Food Tours takes culinary enthusiasts on trips through the city and county to experience the best food and drink in the the west.

Weather you’re looking to sample the freshest fare from the markets, taste fine whiskeys, or just indulge your sweet tooth the guides will be sure to accommodate you while showing off the best spots in Galway as well.

The Irish Tourism Industry Awards recognises those people and companies that create enhanced experiences to draw people to Ireland.

Awards are granted across 15 categories for general initiatives like accommodation and marketing, and regional specific awards for the Atlantic Way, Hidden Heartlands, and Ancient East, as well as a special recognition award.

Sheila Dignam said that she was “overwhelmed and delighted” to have won the award for best food/beverage experience, and thanked all the chefs, suppliers and everyone involved in the food scene in Galway.

The 2019 Irish Tourism Industry Awards took place at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin on Friday night.

Fifteen winner were chosen from among 75 shortlisted nominees.

Speaking at the event, Tourism Minister Shane Ross said: “I am delighted to acknowledge the hard work and success of all companies at this evening’s event.

“Our successful tourism figures go hand-in-hand with the quality of the Irish tourism and hospitality industry.”

Willie Walsh received the Special Recognition Award for his contribution to Irish tourism as the CEO of Aer Lingus.

The full list of winners from the night is:

  • Special Recognition Award – Willie Walsh
  • Best International Marketing Initiative – Pharos Reizen
  • Best Innovative Place to Stay – The Gleneagle Group
  • Best Ireland’s Ancient East Tourism Experience, less than 50,000 visitors – Vagabond Tours of
    Ireland
  • Best Ireland’s Ancient East Tourism Experience, greater than 50,000 visitors – House of
    Waterford Crystal
  • Best Entrepreneurial Tourism Innovation – EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
  • Best Dublin Tourism Experience, greater than 100,000 visitors – Pearse Lyons Distillery
  • Best Dublin Tourism Experience, less than 100,000 visitors – The Little Museum of Dublin
  • Best Meet in Ireland Business Tourism Innovation – Odyssey International DMC
  • Best Food / Beverage Experience – Galway Food Tours
  • Best Environmental Tourism Innovative – Vagabond Tours of Ireland
  • Best Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands Tourism Experience – Lough Key Forest & Activity Park
  • Best Festival / Event Experience – St. Patrick’s Festival
  • Best Wild Atlantic Way Tourism, less than 50,000 visitors – A Taste of West Cork Food Festival
  • Best Wild Atlantic Way Tourism, greater than 50,000 visitors – Cliffs of Moher
  • Best International Access Initiative – Aer Lingus

 

Photo: Galway Food Tours/Facebook

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