Riverbank fencing and instream structures in the Kilroe River, Co. Galway, creating a habitat with varied depth and velocity of flow, favoured by invertebrates and salmonids.
A €1 million grant funding is available to support river conservation projects in Galway and around the country.
Inland Fisheries Ireland is providing grant support under the Habitats and Conservation Funding Call 2024 to support fish, and their habitats, in rivers nationwide.
Barry Fox Head of Operations at Inland Fisheries Ireland said, “The conservation and protection of Atlantic salmon and sea trout is an integral part of IFI’s progressive and sustainable fisheries management operations.”
“This funding will improve fish habitats and increase juvenile abundance of salmon and trout. A total of €1,050,000 is being allocated in 2024.”
“We are investing in transformative conservation projects that have a strong focus on outcomes”.
“Priority will be given to proposals that rehabilitate damaged river habitats, improve water quality, and help fish traverse physical in-stream barriers, like weirs.”
There are two main funding streams under the IFI’s Habitats and Conservation Fund – the Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund, and the Midlands Fisheries Fund.
The money for these schemes comes from the revenue created by salmon and sea trout angling and commercial fishing licences, and the sale of fishing permits.
In 2023, the Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund provided a total of €99,273 to 24 projects in counties Cork, Offaly, Donegal, Galway, Clare, Kerry, Kildare, Sligo, Mayo, Meath, Wicklow and Westmeath.
Up to €50,000 is available through the Midlands Fisheries Fund to support angling and sustainable development works in the Midlands Fisheries Group permit area.
Eligible angling clubs, fishery owners and other stakeholders are invited to express their interest in applying for funding.
The closing date for expressions of interest is December 15, and full application details are available online here.
The annual Christmas Park and Ride Service will run from Galway Racecourse to the city centre from Friday 8 December until Christmas Eve, Galway City Council has announced.
Buses will run every 15 minutes in both directions Monday to Saturday from 9.30 am to 9.15 pm. On Sundays, the service will run every 15 minutes from 11.00am to 7.00pm and every 30 minutes from 7.00 pm to 9.15pm.
Fares are €1 per person each-way, and children and pensioners travel for free. All-day parking at the racecourse is included in the bus fare.
Senior Executive Engineer with Galway City Council, Brendan Gallagher, said that the Christmas Park and Ride aims to alleviate traffic congestion in Galway City in the run-up to the busy Christmas period.
He said it allows those shopping, eating out or visiting venues and events to enjoy a stress-free, reliable way to travel to and from the city.
“This is the 16th year of Galway City Council providing the service and I would encourage prospective visitors to Galway to avail of this easier alternative to bringing the car into the city centre this December,” said Mr Gallagher.
“A special thank you to the Galway Coach Station, Galway Racecourse and Callinan Coaches for partnering with Galway City Council to deliver the service.”
As in previous years, the Christmas Park and Ride service will operate in conjunction with other sustainable transport promotions, with Irish Rail offering free parking at Athenry, Oranmore, Craughwell, Ardrahan and Gort, including their current 20% reduction off all fares and a €6 Day Return fare from Oranmore to Galway, commencing on Friday 8 December.
More information on the Christmas Park and Ride service can be found on the Park and Ride webpage.
Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost will air tonight on RTÉ One at 9.35pm.
President Michael D. Higgins has said that a deeply moving documentary which will be broadcast on RTÉ One tonight should be seen in every household and school in Ireland.
The new documentary shines a light on the alarmingly high suicide rate among the Irish Traveller community, through the harrowing and deeply personal story of 12-year-old Patrick McDonagh from Finglas who died by suicide a year ago.
Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost, which will air tonight on RTÉ One at 9.35pm, only hears from Traveller voices, with the story told from their perspective and not through the lens of settled community.
Sensitively following his parents, Michelle and Pat, as they come to terms with their loss, the film explores wider challenges facing the community and highlights the devastating impact of suicide on those left behind.
In sharing their harrowing personal story, Patrick’s family’s hope is to inspire other people to speak up and ask for help when they need it.
President Michael D. Higgins said that it was an honour to attend an advance screening of Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost, saying that it should be seen in every household and school in Ireland.
President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins with Pat and Michelle McDonagh, at a screening of the RTÉ documentary Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost. The documentary tells the story of their 12-year-old son Patrick McDonagh who died by suicide, which is to be broadcast this Monday night on RTÉ One and RTE Player at 9.35pm.
“Even though I am familiar with the issues with which the Travelling Community struggle, the personal testimonies of Patrick McDonagh’s parents, and Bernie Power moved me in a way I find difficult to describe,” said President Higgins.
“It would be so valuable if all members of the public could see this film, which describes a life lost to bullying. An incredibly talented boy, interested in all aspects of life and full of curiosity, within one year had his life destroyed.
“RTÉ and Alleycat Films have in my mind placed all of us in their debt in what is a splendid, valuable exercise in public service broadcasting. There are so many reasons I could think of why this film should be seen in every household, and it would be just incredibly valuable if it were seen in every school.”
Research shows that more than 1 in 10 Irish Travellers die by suicide. The suicide rate for Irish Traveller women is six times higher than settled women.
Meanwhile, the suicide rate for Irish Traveller men is seven times higher than settled men.
In the documentary Patrick’s mother Michelle Ward shared some of her treasured memories of Patrick.
“I remember when he was born,” she said. “He was the most beautiful little boy that was ever brought into this world. He was always clever. He loved English. He loved Irish. He knew everything about science.”
“He loved fixing bikes. He’d take a bike apart and put it together in seconds. I just can’t believe he left the world the way he did. I just thought he was so happy. He showed no signs…”
Patrick’s father Pat McDonagh reflects on the bullying his son experienced which the family were unaware of until after Patrick’s death.
“My little boy didn’t tell us nothing. I mean, secrets he took it to the grave. God rest him. We never expected Patrick to do what he done. I’m no good with phones – that’s the reason why we didn’t pass any notice of the phones.
“But when he passed away, we started taking notice of the phones, started realising it was the phone. It was a poxy phone. He was hiding stuff where he was being bullied. He never told us deep down inside, the mental torture. God knows what he was going through.”
Michelle explained that he deleted everything off his phone before he passed away.
“Deleted his Snapchat. His Tiktok. I couldn’t figure out why he deleted all of them, you know? We didn’t know what he was going through until the end, until people came and told us, little friends of Patrick’s came up and told us bits and pieces like we didn’t know.”
Sitting in Patrick’s bedroom, his mother Michelle describes her heartbreak.
“I feel very heartbroken when I’m looking at all this stuff. I didn’t just want him for 12 years; I wanted him forever. I was meant to go first. Not him. Suicide is the most hurtful thing to me as a mother. To lose a child. I feel like I have no answers. You know, why would he feel so hurt? That he thought he wouldn’t be happy in life you know? Why? I don’t get it.”
Leading Traveller voices from around the country, including Senator Eileen Flynn and Director of the Traveller Counselling Service Thomas McCann, contribute to the documentary and delve into the complexities facing this marginalised and often discriminated against community.
The documentary details research by DCU which states that 1 in 10 Irish Traveller children experience bullying more than several times a week. Meanwhile, 85% of the Irish public wouldn’t have a Traveller as a friend.
The deeply moving, unprecedented film, created in close collaboration with the Irish Traveller community, hopes to provide an opportunity to ignite conversations, dismantle stigmas, and encourage proactive measures to address the underlying factors contributing to this devastating crisis.
Patrick, A Young Traveller Lost airs tonight, Monday 27th, at 9.35pm on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player.
Pieta provides 24/7 support – if you are suicidal, self-harming or bereaved you can contact Pieta 24/7 via the Freephone crisis helpline on 1800 247 247, you can also text HELP to 51444
A man in his 30s has been arrested in Galway city after Gardaí seized €56,000 of suspected cocaine in a search on Sunday evening.
The search was carried out at a residence in the Castlepark area of the city at approximately 8.20pm.
Around €56,000 of suspected cocaine and €1,800 of suspected cannabis were seized during the search.
The seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis.
The man who was arrested is currently being detained at a Garda station in Galway under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
Freezing conditions could be accompanied by wintry showers later this week as temperatures plummet across the country.
This morning and early afternoon will be mostly cloudy with patchy light rain, drizzle and mist in the West, but it will become drier and brighter through the afternoon.
Tonight will become cold, and frost and icy patches are possible as temperatures fall below zero. Driving conditions could be hazardous, with patches of mist and fog forming.
Tuesday will see a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, mainly near north facing coasts. Highest afternoon temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees are forecast for Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday night will be cold, with low temperatures of below 0 degrees possible. Frost and ice are likely to form in some areas, as well as mist and fog as winds stay light and variable.
The mist and fog will clear slowly on Wednesday and it will be a generally cloudy day over most of the country.
Thursday will be cold again, with temperatures not surpassing 5 degrees.
Wintry showers are possible over higher ground in Connacht and Ulster, and more wintry showers are possible as temperatures remain cold throughout Friday and over the weekend.
People living in Galway City are being invited to attend a series of information evenings on how they reduce their energy costs this winter.
The three events will see multiple groups provide expert advice on how to reduce your home energy costs and your carbon footprint at the same time.
They will discuss grants and finances available; retrofits, solar panels, and heat pumps; a green home heating oil alternative with HVO; an electric car demonstration, active travel and the new draft Galway City climate action plan and community climate action funds.
Westside Community Centre: Tuesday, November 28 – 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Knocknacarra Community Centre: Tuesday, December 5 – 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Renmore Community Centre: Tuesday, December12 – 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Speaking about the evenings, Brian Barrett, Acting Director of Services for Climate Action said, “Each evening will offer a valuable insight into the various options of energy efficiency and reduction available to residents, businesses, and the wider community of Galway City.”
“Each evening at 7.30 pm there will be a talk from the SEAI on home energy grants and Galway City Council on the Draft Climate Action plan and the Community Climate Action Fund.”
“These free information evenings will answer any questions you may have on reducing your home and car energy costs and having a greener and healthier lifestyle. I hope as many as possible will attend.”
The expert organisations at the evenings will be Galway City Council, SEAI, Galway Energy Coop, Claddagh Credit Union, Galway LEO, Electric Ireland Superhomes, SSE Airtricity, JFW Renewables, Firebird, Sweeney Oil and Windsor Motormall Galway.
Galway City Council recently unveiled its Draft Climate Action Plan, which aims for a 51% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030, and for the city to become carbon neutral by 2050.
The draft plan is now in a public consultation phase, with submission open until 4pm on December 29.
Craft beer and cuisine enthusiasts are invited to indulge in a unique sensory experience at 1520 Bar on Quay Street next month.
This amazing event, in collaboration with Connemara Brewery, promises an evening of exquisite craft beers, delectable tapas, and insights into the art of brewing on Wednesday, December 6.
Guests will delve into the brewing process with none other than Aine O’Hora, one of Ireland’s most accomplished brewers.
Aine’s wealth of expertise and passion for craft beer will offer a rare glimpse into the world of brewing excellence.
The event kicks off at 7 pm, promising an immersive experience for everyone. The intimate setting of the Penny Bar in 1520 provides a unique backdrop for this evening of discovery and enjoyment.
Limited spaces are available, so everyone is encouraged to secure their tickets soon to avoid missing out.
As part of the Craft Beer and Tapas Tasting Night at 1520, guests will savour the unique and flavorful offerings from Connemara Brewery as well as a tastefully curated sharing platter from 1520’s renowned tapas menu. The combination of exceptional craft beers and delightful tapas promises an unforgettable night.
“We are thrilled to host this Craft Beer and Tapas Tasting Night in collaboration with Connemara Brewery,” said Johnny Casey at 1520 Bar.
“It’s an opportunity for beer enthusiasts to not only enjoy some of the finest craft beers but also gain insights into the brewing process from the talented Aine O’Hora. Paired with our popular tapas menu, this promises to be a memorable evening for all attendees.”
Tickets for the Craft Beer and Tapas Tasting Night can be purchased on Eventbrite. So, don’t miss this exciting evening of exceptional craft beers, delicious tapas, and a fascinating look at the art of brewing.
Planning permission has been refused for a large-scale residential development consisting of 227 apartments in Galway City.
Glenveagh Living Ltd sought approval for the construction of seven apartment blocks ranging from three to five storeys in height.
The new apartment complex was to be built on lands at Gort na Bró, Rahoon, next to Gateway Retail Park.
The development plans also included 1,009.5m² of commercial space at the ground floor level of the blocks, a community facility and a childcare facility with an external play area.
Other works involved in the project would involve the realignment of the road between Gort na Bró and Gateway Retail Park as well as the provision of private and communal open spaces.
A major element of the plans was the creation of a Civic Square on the western edge of the site to cater for the wider Knocknacarra District Centre.
Planning permission was refused by Galway City Council due to concerns about overshadowing, and the development’s relationship with the planning N6 Galway City Ring Road.
The council said that two of the apartment blocks would significantly overshadow the communal space between them and that another would do so to lands zoned for development right next to the site.
The overabundance of one and two-bedroom apartments and the lack of three-bedroom units was also cited as a reason for refusal.
Finally, the council said that the proposed development is at variance with the policy regarding developments on or affecting national roads due to its proximity to the proposed N6 Galway City Ring Road route.
Allowing it to go ahead would therefore “adversely affect the operation and safety of the national road network”, either by itself or by the precedent it would set.
Sonia is hanging on for dear life, Malachaí crosses a line trying to control Sadie, and romantic wires get crossed with Manus in Ros na Rún.
The day of Sadie’s art exhibition is here, and she’s not doing well at all. People become more concerned for Sadie’s well-being as she unveils her art.
Malachaí gets Sadie back under control, but Tadhg has seen something and even he thinks Malachaí has gone too far. Just what did he do?
Things aren’t looking good for Sonia. Meanwhile, Mack is left in the dark and desperate to know if she is alive.
O’Shea arrives in with news from the hospital that startles Diana. What is after happening?
Réailtín wants to know where she stands with Manus and gets Che to act as her wingman. Che has a conversation with Manus.
However, Manus gets the wrong end of the stick. Where will this comedy of errors of who fancies who go next?
Catch up on all the latest from Ros an Rún this Sunday on TG4 at 7:30pm with a double-feature omnibus.
JP McMahon has been honoured as the top Businessman of the Year by the Galway Chamber of Commerce.
Restauranteur and event organiser McMahon was chosen for the President’s Award of the 2023 Galway Chamber Business Awards by the new President Eveanna Ryan.
She said, “JP has been a cornerstone of business in Galway city, a visionary who has woven an intricate tapestry of success through his various ventures and events.”
“He has played a pivotal role in propelling Galway onto the global food map, establishing it as a world-renowned culinary destination”.
JP McMahon is the owner of the Michelin-starred Aniar Restaurant and the award-winning Cava Bodega, which celebrated its 15th anniversary earlier this year.
McMahon is also the founder and organiser of the Food on the Edge symposium, which draws top chefs, restauranteurs, and more from around the world each year.
A boil water notice for the Kinvara Public Water Supply has been lifted with immediate effect, Uisce Éireann has said.
Following consultation with the HSE customers can now resume normal use of the public water supply.
Issued in October, the notice was put in place to protect the health of customers following a mechanical issue at the water treatment plant which compromised the disinfection of the water supply.
Drinking water experts from Uisce Éireann worked to lift the notice as quickly and safely as possible and following satisfactory water samples the Boil Water Notice has been lifted.
Uisce Eireann’s Justin Doran acknowledged the impact of the notice on customers and thanked the community for their support while we worked to lift the notice.
“Uisce Éireann’s primary focus remains the protection of public health and we worked with our stakeholders to lift the notice as quickly as possible. We are grateful to customers, elected representatives and the media for their assistance in sharing information on the boil water notice in recent weeks,” he said.
TFI Local Link Galway has announced changes to its bus services from Portumna to Ballinasloe, which will come into effect on Monday, 4 December.
Route 547 will now operate five daily return services Monday to Saturday, as well as three daily return services on Sunday.
The improved route is designed to make it easier for people to travel to Portumna, Eyrecourt, Laurencetown, Ballinasloe and Ballinasloe Train Station.
TFI Local Link Galway General Manger, Joe Greally, said that the improved route is a much-needed, and will provide a morning service from Ballinasloe Train Station and improved connectivity to regional bus and rail services.
“We believe this will be welcomed by our existing and new customers alike, as it offers them more flexibility.
“In partnership with the NTA, we are committed to continually improving and expanding our services to meet the needs of our customers.
“We understand that every journey matters, and with these enhancements, we hope to make those journeys even better.”
From left, Professor Aidan Flynn, Consultant Cardiologist; Andrea Cooke, Cardiac Physiologist; Carol Glynn, Healthcare Assistant; Caroline Hanniffy, Cardiac Physiologist; Claire Mc Dermott, Chief II Cardiac Physiologist; Ann Donohue, Cardiac Physiologist; Dr Núria Farre, Consultant Cardiologist; Niamh Corrigan, Cardiac Physiologist and James Keane, Hospital Manager.
Portiuncula University Hospital has received European accreditation for the echocardiography department by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) following a process of quality standards and improvements.
The European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) established a European echocardiogram standard in laboratory practices and patient care.
The aim of laboratory accreditation is to raise quality standards of practice and equipment across Europe in a uniform manner.
It is also designed to be used as an educational tool to improve the overall quality of cardiac investigation departments.
Portiuncula University Hospital is the third hospital in the country to be accredited by the EACVI.
Claire McDermott, Chief II Cardiac Physiologist said: “I am delighted and extremely proud of our team here in the Cardiac Investigations Department for having achieved such a highly regarded world recognised accreditation.
“We now have certification for five years, which would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of such a fantastic team.
“It is an exciting time for our department as we continue to focus on quality improvement, embrace new methods of working, new technology, and more integration to ensure we continue to provide our patients with the utmost care.”
The cardiac Investigations Department provides a variety of non-invasive tests such as ECG, blood pressure, cardiac rhythm monitoring, exercise stress tests and echocardiography.
Last year, the department carried out 3,200 echocardiograms – a type of ultrasound for the heart used to aid in the diagnosis of a variety of cardiac disorders and to assess treatments for heart conditions.
Professor Aidan Flynn, Consultant Cardiologist, said that the accreditation gives great confidence to patients knowing they are attending a department that is performing their echocardiograms to the highest standards.
“It also demonstrates our commitment to lifelong learning and knowledge expansion. The team’s dedication to improving our service delivery has been incredible, and we are now lucky enough to be using the most advanced state-of-the-art echocardiography technology in our department,” he said.
Dr Núria Farre, Consultant Cardiologist, said: “I would like to acknowledge the work and commitment of the echocardiogram team.
“This honour recognises their skills while also reflecting the hospital’s and the Cardiac Investigation Department’s dedication to provide the best possible care to patients.”
Schools in Galway are being invited to apply for the first phase of the Solar for Schools Programme which opens this month.
The programme will provide eligible schools with 6 kilowatts of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels.
The solar PV panels in schools will also be connected to the electricity grid so that the schools can generate income by selling excess electricity back to the grid.
This will be especially beneficial to schools as they can expect to generate electricity while using almost none on weekends and during holidays.
Schools can expect to save in the region of €1,200 to €1,600 per year after selling any surplus solar power.
Minister for Education Norma Foley said, “I am delighted to launch the Solar for Schools scheme today. It will allow up to 4,000 schools nationwide to get solar PV panels to reduce their energy bills and their carbon emissions”.
“This ties in with the strong ethos of environmental awareness and climate sustainability among our students and the wonderful work they do in this area, most notably with the Green Flag initiative.”
The first phase of the scheme, covering 11 areas, will open for application on November 30, with all eligible schools to be contacted by the Department.
The intention is to include a further eight counties in phase two in Q2 2024 and the remaining eight counties in Q4 2024.
The phasing of the programme will ensure a managed and steady flow of work for solar PV contractors.
Schools will be provided with funding from the Department to have solar panels installed by an SEAI-registered contractor.
The exact budget for the scheme is not being released for commercial reasons. The government has said that this is to ensure that contractors deliver competitive quotes.
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Ossian Smyth said, “It’s great that schools around the country will now see their electricity bills drop while doing their bit for the climate.”
“Even when the school is closed for the holidays, they will earn money by selling the power they generate back to the grid.”
“Each school will have a display screen to let staff and students know how much power is being generated. I am also delighted that teaching materials will be offered to schools so that students can learn about solar power.”
Areas included in the first phase of the programme are: Co. Clare, Co. Donegal, Dublin City Council area, Co. Galway, Co. Kerry, Co. Kilkenny, Co. Leitrim, Co. Limerick, Co. Offaly, Co. Waterford and Co. Wicklow.
A planning appeal has been lodged against the refusal of permission for 148 homes on the outskirts of Galway City.
Cairn Homes Ltd this month saw plans for a large-scale residential development on land south of the Letteragh Road shot down by the city council.
The plans were for 93 houses, 20 duplex units, and 35 apartments in a housing estate next to the existing Sliabh Ríoga development.
The proposed four-storey apartment building would be the most prominent element of the estate, located at the entrance facing onto the Letteragh Road.
In refusing planning permission the City Council said that the development would “adversely affect the operation and safety of the national road network”, either by itself or by virtue of the precedent it would set.
The rejection also cited the lack of provision for any childcare facility in the plans and criticised the design of the communal open space.
The site is located next to the planned N59 Link Road, which would make the boundary of the western edge of the estate when built.
The developer has now appealed that decision to An Bord Pleanála, which is due to make a ruling on the case by March 14, 2024.
Music for Galway and Galway Dance Project have joined forces to bring together two top Irish-based artists: percussionist Alex Petcu and dance artist Marion Cronin.
Join them at the Black Box in Galway on Tuesday, November 28 at 7:30pm.
This is the first time that these artists have worked together. They will first perform individually and then present a new work that has emerged from their extended collaboration, which was facilitated over the past few months.
As part of their work together, they are engaging with students of local secondary schools prior to the performance and also doing a workshop with the participants of the Galway Music Residency Apprentice Ensemble Programme.
An Irish musician of Romanian origin, Alex is quickly establishing himself both nationally and internationally as a percussionist of the finest calibre.
His debut album, “Alex Petcu: In Time”, released on the RTE lyric fm label, showcases both seminal works and new contributions to the percussion repertoire.
Aside from his performing activities, Alex is also an assistant lecturer in percussion at the MTU Cork School of Music.
Marion Cronin is a contemporary dance artist and new choreographer based in Dublin.
Since graduating in 2014 from The Scottish School Of Contemporary Dance she has toured extensively across Ireland and internationally.
Most recently she has worked with choreographers and companies including; Liz Roache (Dublin Dance Festival), Jean Butler (Dublin Theatre Festival), Lucia Kickham (Schwere Reiter, Munich) and Philip Connaughton (Carlow Arts Festival).
An inspiring night of discovery awaits!
Standard Ticket prices are €18; Concession €16.20; Social Inclusion €9; MfG Friends €14 and can be booked from www.musicforgalway.ie or 091 705962.
Concession rate applies to people aged over 66 and social inclusion tickets are available to children, students (full-time), people in receipt of disability, carers and back-to-work allowance as well as to people seeking refuge and refugees.
Alternative water supplies have been arranged after major water outages hit Portumna following an issue with the water treatment plant.
Uisce Eireann is carrying out repairs to the Portumna Water Treatment Plant following a mechanical fault on Thursday. This is causing water outages in Portumna and surrounding areas.
An alternative water supply is available at the car park close to Concannon’s Hardware in Killimor Village and will remain in place until Saturday.
People are reminded to use their own clean and sanitised potable containers when taking water from the alternative water supply.
Uisce Eireann expects that the local water supply will begin to return this evening, but it will take some hours for the reservoirs and water network to refill.
Generally, it takes approximately two to three hours for the water supply to return to normal for all affected customers.
Uisce Éireann’s Justin Doran regrets the inconvenience for customers adding, “We understand how disruptive unplanned outages are and we regret the inconvenience caused.”
“We would like to thank impacted customers in the Portumna area for their patience while we work on repairs and restore the water supply as quickly as possible.”
The Connacht Squad has been named for this weekend’s clash with the Bulls in the second game of their South Africa trip.
Connacht will play the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria this Saturday, with kick-off at 3pm Irish time.
Commenting ahead of the game, head coach Pete Wilkins said, “To play the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld is one of the great experiences in world rugby, and although it shapes to be a big challenge our entire squad is excited and ready to go.”
Wilkins added that he is pleased with the momentum Connacht has managed to build up this early in the URC season.
“Our previous performance against the Sharks, whilst not perfect, was another significant step in the development of our team, demonstrating that we can find a way to win in tough and unfamiliar environments away from home.
Six changes have been made to the squad which beat the Sharks last week, including Sean Jansen’s Connacht debut. Jack Carty will be captaining the squad on Saturday at out-half
The front three remains the same with Denis Buckley, Tadgh McElroy and Finlay Bealham. There’s a change in the second row with Darragh Murray joining Joe Joyce.
It’s a brand new back row with Oisin Dowling moving from lock to blindside, Shamus Hurley-Langton starts at openside and Sean Jansen is set to make his debut wearing the number eight.
There are three changes in the backs including the return of Jack Carty, while playing alongside him at scrum-half is Colm Reilly.
Diarmuid Kilgallen joins Byron Ralston and Tiernan O’Halloran in the back three while David Hawkshaw will partner Cathal Forde at 12.
“The selection changes we have made reflect the importance of taking some fresh legs to Pretoria, whilst also building on some of the combinations that have served us well in recent weeks,” Pete Wilkins said.
“Both Sean Jansen and David Hawkshaw deserve their first opportunities in the starting lineup and will no doubt make significant contributions to what will need to be a relentless and physical twenty-three man performance.”
CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS VODACOM BULLS 15:00 Irish time, Saturday 25th November 2023 @ Loftus Versfeld
Gardaí are investigating after a woman in her 70s was hospitalised for injuries sustained after her car was stolen this week.
Gardaí are appealing for information in relation to the theft of a vehicle on Williamstown Road, Castlerea on Tuesday, November 21 at approximately 5:30pm.
A woman in her 70s was injured during the course of this incident and later received treatment at Sligo University Hospital Sligo.
No arrests have been at this time but Gardaí are following a definite line of enquiry with regards to this investigation. A family liaison officer has been appointed.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information on this incident to come forward to them.
The stolen vehicle is described by Gardaí as a red Volkswagen Fox hatchback with an 08 RN partial registration.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Gardaí at Castlerea Garda Station 094 962 1630, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
Investigations are ongoing at this time.
Galway City Council has launched the first ever draft local authority Climate Action Plan, which sets out ambitious targets to transform the council and the city.
Galway City Council aims to reduce greenhouse gases on both its operations and the wider city by 51% by 2030, and to become carbon-neutral by 2050.
The public are invited to make submissions to the Draft LA Climate Action Plan from today until Friday, 29 December at 4.00pm.
Speaking about the launch, Ms Patricia Philbin, Interim Chief Executive Galway City Council, said that the Local Authority Climate Action Plan is a welcome further development in creating a more sustainable and climate neutral Galway City.
“Collaboration has never been more important in maintaining a dialogue with the people of Galway, so that our city has climate action and resilience at the forefront of everything that we do,” she said.
“As we are witnessing extreme weather events such as increased storms, flooding, and droughts here in Ireland, and temperatures reaching over 50°C in mainland Europe, Climate breakdown is becoming very real and visible.
“These events remind us that we all have a responsibility to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and make positive Climate choices. Galway City Council will be to the forefront of that action, working in partnership with businesses and our communities throughout the city.”
Mayor of Galway City, Cllr. Eddie Hoare said that climate change is the most significant challenge to all communities in Galway City.
He said that the inaugural climate action plan marks a significant milestone in the city’s commitment to address this challenge by implementing measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
“This plan sets out ambitious targets to deliver transformative action across all functions of Galway City Council and throughout Galway City.
“Climate action also offers opportunities to communities and businesses to promote sustainability, biodiversity, active travel and to make positive changes in our daily lives.
“I welcome this plan as a significant further step in delivering our 2030 targets and progressing towards a climate neutral Galway City by 2050 in line with Irelands Climate Action Plan targets.”
