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Japanese ambassador visits Galway to promote cultural ties

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Japanese Ambassador visits Galway

Galway played host to the Japanese Ambassador to Ireland Mari Miyoshi this afternoon down at the Docks.

Ambassador Miyoshi has been attending several events in Galway to promote growing links between Ireland and Japan.

A En-Musubi Gathering, which means “connection tying”, was held at Wa Café earlier this afternoon at the docks.

Deputy Mayor Donal Lyons said that there will be plenty of people of people from Galway and Ireland taking a trip to Japan over the next two years for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Olympics

Galway makes a point of welcoming people from all corners said Councillor Lyons, “If you think, 21 percent of the people living in the city of Galway were born outside of Ireland.”

“It just goes to show the diversity of Galway. We’re a very welcoming city and we always have been. We didn’t get the name the City of Tribes because we were a major port.”

Councillor Lyons apologised that Mayor McNelis couldn’t be present himself.

Mayor McNelis is currently part of delegation to China, councillor Lyons said, and will be out of the country for a spell.

Ambassador Miyoshi opened her address by wishing everyone present a Happy New Year and thanking the people of Ireland for the welcome she has received in her three years here.

This morning the Ambassador stopped by the Akumakon convention of Anime, Manga, and Japanese culture on at NUI Galway this weekend before coming to this gathering.

“I hope many more Irish people visit Japan over the next two years,” said Ambassador Miyoshi.

She added that, “Galway is one of the most attractive and popular destinations for Japenese tourists in Ireland,” and that it would be even more so during Galway 2020 as a Capital of Culture.

Siobhán O’Malley, Cultural Producer with Galway 2020, added that cultural and artistic ties with Japan will get even stronger next year.

As the European Capital of Culture Galway will benefit from the EU-Japan Fest which promotes cultural cooperation with year’s Capital of Culture.

According to Siobhán Irish art and music are becoming incredibly popular in Japan, and its her job to promote those arts in 2020.

Galway 2020 and the EU-Japan Fest will work together “to bring Japanese artists to Galway, but also provide opportunities for Galway artists to go to Japan for residencies that will last beyond 2020.”

Coastal search continues for missing Salthill man

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news coastal search continues for Robert Murray

The search for Robert Murray missing for over a week is continuing along the Oranmore coast this weekend.

Robert Murray (25), from Salthill has been missing since Tuesday, January 8.

The last confirmed sighting of Robert was a cctv image of him near Shop Street shortly after 10pm.

He was wearing black trousers, and a khaki green jacket.

Robert is described as 5′ 10” with black hair.

Galway Daily news Search to continue Wednesday for missing Robert Murray

Oranmore Maree Coastal Search Unit has been searching the coastline around Galway city for over a week,

The fresh search today got underway from Calasanctius college in Oranmore at 8:45am.

It is also planned to continue the search on Sunday from 9:45am, also from Calasanctius college.

Volunteers who want to take part are urged to bring appropriate all weather gear and safety equipment.

Clifden house fire claims woman’s life

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Missing 17 year old teenager found safe and well

A tragic house fire at a housing estate in Clifden last night claimed one woman’s life.

Emergency services came to a house fire at Tullyvoheen housing estate in Clifden at 8pm on Friday.

Two units of the Clifden fire brigade attended the scene and were able to bring the blaze under control.

But one woman who was alone in the house lost her life.

The woman, who is believed to be from North Connemara, was found in the upstairs bedroom.

Gardaí sealed off the scene and are carrying out inquiries in the area.

They are taking place to be of use at any later inquest into the tragic incident.

It’s understood that gardaí are treating this as a terrible accident, and not suspicious.

City council votes for CCTV at bottle banks to tackle dumping

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily new City council calls for cctv at bottle banks to combat dumping

Galway city council has called for CCTV to be installed at bottle banks in the city to tackle illegal dumping at them.

Councillors said that people are seriously abusing bottle banks by dumping bin bags of rubbish at them.

At this month’s meeting of the city council, it was asked why there wasn’t more being done to prevent dumping at bottle banks.

Councillor Ollie Crowe said that he was “baffled” that cctv previously present at bottle banks in the city had been shut down by the council.

He pointed out that cctv cameras at the bottle bank in Westside has been turned off for the past year.

When he passed it recently, there were 20 to 25 black bin bags piled up around the bottle bank Councillor Crowe added.

The city management said that while the council was free to install cameras where it pleased, there are issues about how the data collected can be used because of GDPR.

The council is currently seeking legal advice on how to proceed and promised to return to the matter to the elected representatives when more is known.

Councillor Pearce Flannery said that the bin bags being left out by people at bottle banks are a serious problem because the rubbish rarely stays in the bag.

“Birds, and rats, and cats and kids perhaps too are bursting them open,” he said.

This leads to rubbish being spread down the street by animals or the wind.

It was pointed out that this is a particularly embarrassing public issue for Galway as the city leads the nation in recycling efforts.

Councillor Frank Fahy wanted to know if it was possible to expand on the services available by adding plastic and cardboard recycling facilities at bottle bank sites.

The council was debating new bylaws governing the presentation of waste by homes and businesses when bottle banks were raised.

These bylaws are for private waste producers and do not affect public disposal areas like bottle banks.

Despite this Councillor Donal Lyons introduced a motion back by councillor Terry O’Flaherty calling for the city council to re-install cctv cameras at its bottle banks.

The motion passed with unanimous support from the council.

Galway United sign Iarfhlaith Davoren as player coach

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Galway United sign Iarfhlaith Davoren as player coach

Galway United have completed the signing of Iarfhlaith Davoren as a player coach.

Comining back to Galway United after almost decade away, this will be Davoren, third run with the Tribesmen.

Davoren first played for Galway in 2006, and made over 50 appearances for United in two separate spells which were broken up by a move to Longford town.

In 2010 he joined the Sligo Rovers and won a strings of victories where the team won the Premier Division, three FAI Cups and an EA Sports Cup over four season.

He signed with Cork for a while, before returning to the Rovers for a second run.

Returning to Eamon Deacy Park noe, Davoren said that taking up the dual role was the perfect way to get back with Galway United.

“I’m keen to continue my progression as a coach and I’m also very excited about playing in the coming season. I’m currently studying for a Masters in Sports Performance”

“I’ve always enjoyed a great relationship with Alan Murphy, going back to when I was playing alongside him,” said Davoren, adding that they see the game in a similar way.

After leaving Sligo Iarfhlaith took a trip Stateside to join the Tulsa Roughnecks in Oklahoma, where he stayed for two seasons.

Afterwards he hit the coast and was a player coach with PSC FC in California.

When Alan Murphy got back involved with the club last year, he got in touch as he was considering coming home to Ireland at the time.

“We met on a number of occasions in the off-season and I was hugely impressed with the plans he has been putting in place for the team and the club as a whole.”

“It’s a talented young squad that is benefiting from a few more experienced heads and it’s a great fit for me,” Iarfhlaith said.

He hopes that he’ll be able to pass on some of the wisdom that senior players like Joey N’Do gave to him onto the younger lads.

Alan Murphy spoke at length about the kinds kinds of players the club needs, and said Iarfhlaith is the perfect choice.

“He comes back in with a fantastic footballing CV, in terms of pedigree and achievement.”

“For ProjectDNA, we’ve identified the sort of people we want at the club and as a serious professional that really wants to buy into the project, Iarfhlaith fits the bill perfectly.”

According to Murphy Iarfhlaith and other senior members will play an important role bridging the gap between the players and the coaches at Galway United.

“They all bought into the plan when I met up with them, but having been in training for a while now, they are extremely excited to be working with this talented group of young players.”

Permission refused for B&B style building in the Claddagh

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Plans for city centre hotel development off Eyre Square

Planning permission has been turned down for “Bed and Breakfast type building” on Fr Griffin road.

An application was lodged with the city council to build a bed and breakfast on an infill site at 16 Fr Griffin Road.

It was intended to have eight en suite guest rooms with a reception and living area

According to the design, parking for the B&B would have been handled through existing car parks in the area.

A agreement was made with the nearby Crescent Court to let the developer Garrulus ltd use eight spaces in their car park.

The developer also said that arrangements had been made with a nearby café to provide breakfast, lunch, and other refreshments as needed.

Two submissions were made to the city by local residents which were suspicious of the intended use of the building.

The high number of bedrooms with little kitchen space and no breakfast area included in the plans made it likely this was intended for use as a hostel or Airbnb rental they said.

The objectors said this would be out of keeping with the feel of the neighbourhood.

One person also argued that it would put too much strain on the water network, which is already aging and leaky in that part of the city.

Galway city council refused planning permission for the bed and breakfast breakfast.

Unemployment sees marginal increase in December

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Unemployment continues downward trend in April

Unemployment got slightly worse in Galway towards the end of the year as the number of people on the Live Register increased.

There were 10,684 people on the Live Register last month, two hundred more than in November.

By far the largest jump in unemployment within that figure was in Tuam where 74 people went on the Live Register.

However despite a poor end to the year, 2018 saw a steady drop in unemployment figures in Galway.

Looking back just a little further there were 10,861 people on the Register in September.

And from the start of 2018 nearly 2,000 people came off the Live Register.

According to the latest unemployment figures there are 5,112 people on the Live Register in Galway city.

In Tuam 1,63 people are unemployed, with a further 1,214 jobless in Ballinasloe.

Loughrea has the next highest figure with 1,163 people in the Register, while there 786 unemployed in Gort and a further 775 in Clifden.

The Live Register keeps an estimate of unemployment levels around the country be tallying up the number of people receiving certain unemployment benefits.

It’s made up of people who are receiving Jobseekers Benefits or Jobseekers Allowance, or part-time workers who qualify for either of those payments. The register also includes people signing on for PRSI credits but who don’t receive any payment.

Japanese ambassador to visit city tomorrow

By
Michael Malone
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WA CAFE JAPANESE GALWAY DAILY

The Japanese Ambassador to Ireland Ms. Mari Miyoshi will attend a lunch in Galway City tomorrow at WA Café.

The En-Musubi Gathering, which means ‘connection tying’, aims to strengthen the ties between Japan and Ireland-, to expand links in cultural, business and economic activities and to increase even more the warm relations between the two countries.

The event is being attended by people working within academia, cultural and business activity between Galway, Ireland and Japan.

 

Groundbreaking diabetes research at NUI Galway gets multi-million funding

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

NUI Galway is spending €1.6 million on training six researchers on therapies with the potential to revolutionise the treatment of Type 1 Diabetes.

The DELIVER programme at NUIG has been granted €1.6 million to advance new ways of transplanting insulin producing cells into the bodies of patients with Type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.

Without insulin the body can’t properly regulate blood sugar levels which can cause dangerously high blood sugar.

Chronic high blood sugar often causes devastating health complications later in life, including blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and nerve damage that can lead to amputations.

Each early stage researcher will spend half of their time with an academic partner and the other half with an industry partner so they can ensure that academic knowledge will become implemented in patient care.

Professor Garry Duffy at NUI Galway said, “We are delighted to lead the DELIVER programme and to continue to translate new collaborative research for the benefit of patients with Type 1 diabetes.”

“We are also excited to train the next generation of researchers in this area, and to give them the industrial skills necessary to have real patient impact.”

This programme is a major collaboration between biologists, medtech specialists, and bio medical companies to spearhead new innovations.

It’s funded through the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme, and builds on research from another massive EU project, DRIVE, which was also co-ordinated by Professor Duffy.

Recruitment of the six researchers for DELIVER will begin at NUI Galway at the end of January.

Victims and perpetrators have been let down by Garda failures

By
Michael Malone
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victims let down by gardai galway daily news

The huge failures to act on youth crimes, which were reported yesterday, must never occur again, said a Galway TD.

Responding to a new report by An Garda Síochána, Anne Rabbitte TD said that measures must be put in place to ensure that this never happens again.

The report revealed that there were nearly 8,000 youth crimes which were never progressed or prosecuted.

The Galway East TD called on Minister Katherine Zappone to outline what her department is going to do in light of the recent report.

Commenting on the report, Deputy Rabbitte said: “It seems that a number of these cases involved serious offences, something which I find deeply worrying.

“It is simply horrendous to think that a person could make a report of a serious crime to An Garda Síochána and that would not be acted on.”

She said that it was unfair to the victims of these crimes, but it also affected the young offenders, who didn’t receive the appropriate interventions from the justice system and the broader state.

“It should be remembered that 57 of the child offenders referred to in this report have since passed away.

It is possible that proper intervention could have averted this. As Garda Commissioner Drew Harris commented, “These were people living chaotic lives,” said the Fianna Fáil TD.

Deputy Rabbitte called on Minister Zappone to account for this massive failing and explain what her Department will be doing to ensure that such an issue does not happen again.

Just one week remaining to apply for emigrants business programme

By
Michael Malone
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galway daily aer lingus plane as recruitment drive nears deadline

Emigrants who have returned to Galway in the past three years have just one week to take up a Government initiative supporting business development.

The closing date for completed applications is 25 January 2019 and people planning to return to Galway in the near future will also be considered.

The ‘Back for Business’ entrepreneur mentoring programme, which is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, runs over six months.

The programme was run on a pilot basis last year to support entrepreneurial activity among those recently returned or planning to return to live and set up business in Ireland and there is no charge for those selected to participate.

Minister Ciaran Cannon, who urged emigrants to apply, explained: “Back for Business’ is specifically designed for recently returned emigrants who have lived abroad for at least a year and have returned in the last three years. Those planning to return in the near future will also be considered.

“More and more Irish emigrants are returning home to Ireland to live and to work and as we have seen in the pilot, this is an initiative that can make a tangible difference to returned and returning emigrants who have keen entrepreneurial desire and ambition.

“Many potential entrepreneurs returning home can often bring with them significant advantages of starting a business such as a strong network of international contacts, proficiency in foreign languages and a greater understanding of export markets.

“However, there may also be gaps in their local knowledge, contact base and professional and personal backgrounds.

“Back for Business is designed to bridge these gaps, while also addressing the general challenges all entrepreneurs face when establishing a business.”

Minister Cannon added: ‘This is an excellent initiative and I encourage eligible Galway natives to further explore the programme`s potential.”

Families with kids invited to The Dockside Deli for kid-friendly fish tasting day

By
Michael Malone
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dockside deli fish day galway daily

The Dockside Deli by Galway Bay Seafoods is putting the focus on kids over the next three Saturdays by inviting families to drop in for a child-friendly fish tasting and information day.

Starting next Sturday, January 26th, The Dockside Deli’s in-house professional chef Kevin Hynes and his team will help parents learn different ways to introduce fish into their children’s diets, as well as showing kids how delicious fish can be.

Kevin Hynes said: “At The Dockside Deli, we are passionate about helping to get the public eating in a fresh, healthy and sustainable way, and we recognise that this needs to begin with our children.

“We want to make fish cookery more accessible for parents, and myself and the team will be available to chat with them about the best way to get kids involved in the process of cooking and enjoying fish – as well as giving everyone a taste of some tasty kid-friendly fish.”

Colette Reynolds, Children’s Healthy Eating Specialist at Growing Healthy Eaters in Galway, will also be taking part in the Parents and Kids Tasting and Info Day at The Dockside Deli.

As a parent of young kids, as well as using knowledge from her extensive psychology and health promotion training, Colette works with parents to enhance their children’s nutrition.

Colette said: “Since becoming a mum, I realised just how tricky it is to keep a family healthy, happy and well-fed and I understand the challenges and frustrations many parents face.

“I’m delighted to work with the team at Galway Bay Seafoods on this fantastic initiative to encourage kids to eat fish.  I will be on hand to answer questions from parents about all aspects of healthy eating for kids, as well as fussy eating.”

Noel Holland, owner of The Dockside Deli, said: “My father set up this business in 1950 and we have received such fantastic support from the community over the years that we wanted to give something back.

“Here in Ireland we have access to some of the best fish and seafood in the world, which unfortunately we don’t always embrace.

“We are delighted to open our doors to the public to share our expertise about the benefits of fish and the best ways to enjoy it together as a family.”

The Parents and Kids Tasting and Info Day at The Dockside Deli will take place from 11:00am to 3:00pm on Saturday the 26th of January.

Other Parents and Kids Days are planned for the 2nd and the 9th of February.

Bulmers binge – 2000 cans recovered at dumping black spot

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news 2,000 cans recovered from dumping black spot in rosscahill

Galway county council has said that is it investigating after a massive amount of cans were recovered at an illegal dumping spot near Rosscahill.

A team from the county council recovered approximately 2,000 cans from a site at Letter, Rosscahill at a cleanup this week.

The council has said that a full investigation has been launched into the dumping incident.

Galway county council has asked that people report any instances of dumping in their area by calling the council’s Environment Section on 091-509510 or by email to environment@galwaycoco.ie.

Illegal dumping has become a hot topic in Galway county and city lately as the spotlight has been put on a people mistreating our public lands.

A protest was held outside the monthly meeting of the city council on Monday calling for the creation of dedicated park wardens to clean up Terryland Forest Park and Menlo Park.

Environmentalist Brendan Smith with photos of litter in Galway’s parks

A recent community cleanup at Terryland Forest Park removed 59 bin bags of rubbish in one two hour period.

Concerns have also been expressed about a dumping black spot in Gort right beside the river.

There sheer volume of waste being dumped there has raised speculation that it could the result an organised operation.

Plans for playschool and creche next to Rosscahill primary school

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Fresh planning application for new Clifden playschool

A planning application is with Galway County Council for the construction of a playschool and creche in Carrowmoreknock, Rosscahill.

It’s intended that the playschool/creche be built on a site adjacent to the existing Scoil Náisiúnta Caladh na Muc in Rosscahill.

Marie Gibbons, principal teacher S.N. Caladh na Muc submitted a letter to the county council supporting the development.

She said that it be both a source of employment for the community and help local families to send their children to school in the area, rather than in Galway city, Moycullen, or further afield.

S.N Caladh na Muc has recently been extended, and Ms. Gibbons said that having nearby after school facilities would make it easier for people to enroll their children there.

The county council made a request for further information from Joseph Harris, the person behind this development, back in November.

The council asked the developer to obtain a letter of consent from the trustee/chairperson/secretary of Castleknockmore Group Water Scheme ensuring that there will be a supply of potable water for the playschool.

Galway county council is due to make a decision on whether to let this project move ahead by February 13.

Dog slashes paw on broken glass in city carpark rife for anti-social behaviour

By
Michael Malone
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coolagh carpark crestwood dog injured galway daily

People have been advised to be vigilant when walking through the Crestwood Club House area due to a ‘substantial amount’ of broken glass in the carpark which yesterday left a dog with a slashed paw.

Damien J. Quinn, from Crestwood, Coolagh, says that his dog slashed his paw there yesterday on the way back from his walk.

“The dog is now in a lot of unnecessary discomfort due to the actions of a handful of individuals,” said Damien.

Anti-social behaviour in the area has been a regular occurrence for some time and the City Council and the Gardaí have supported the local community on this matter.

Damien urged locals to be careful when walking through this area.

“Anyone with children, especially toddlers, should take extra care when walking in this area,” he said.

Damien thanked local Councillors, the City Council Ground staff, An Garda Síochána and Galway Fire Brigade for their ongoing support to the local community in relation to this issue

UHG is the most overcrowded hospital in Ireland today

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news UHG overcrowding

University Hospital Galway is the most overcrowded acute hospital in Ireland today.

According to Trolley and Ward Watch figures today there are 47 people on trolleys or in overcrowded wards at UHG.

That’s tied for the most overcrowded place with UH Cork, with UH Limerick in third place with 41 people on trolleys.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation records the number of people waiting on trolleys or stuck in beds or in trolleys in wards beyond their capacity.

Today’s figure of 47 patients without a regular bed is the most overcrowded UHG has been so far this year.

2018 was a the worst year on record for patients at the A&E as the number forced to wait on trolleys passed 100,000 for the first time on record.

The INMO says that pay and retention issues are leading to staff shortages among nurses which is seriously affecting the flow of patients to Emergency Departments.

Nurses are planning to go on strike over the coming coming weeks to protest the issue, with the first planned by the INMO for the end of this month of January 30.

More strikes from the INMO and Psychiatric nurses are planned for February if they cannot resolve their issues with the government.

Aldi unveils new store as part of €160m investment in Irish stores

By
Michael Malone
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Galway daily news Aldi unveils revamped Loughrea store in €160 million national investment

ALDI has opened its doors to its ‘Project Fresh’ store in Oranmore as part of the the German supermarket’s €160m investment in its Irish store network.

The newly refurbished store has received a full makeover, with the new layout scooping up awards at the Checkout National Retail Supplier Awards.

The chain has committed €100m to constructing and opening 20 new stores, while Project Fresh sees Aldi invest a further €60m in revamping the layout and design of all of its 137 stores nationwide.

Featuring the new layout, Aldi’s Oranmore store now offers a wide selection of fresh food at the front of the store, hi-spec fixtures and fittings and new signage which Aldi says provides a ‘more efficient and hassle-free shopping experience’.

There are also 92 free car parking spaces available for customers.

Speaking at the reopening, Barry Lee, Store Manager at Aldi’s Oranmore store said: “The Project Fresh revamp of our store is great news for shoppers. Its new spacious design makes for a very easy and enjoyable shop.

“Our commitment to our customers is we will never be beaten on price and will always provide the best value. Our Swap and Save campaign launched in May and the goal of this campaign is to remind shoppers about the saving that can be generated by swapping their weekly shop to Aldi.”

Líon Ard Othar ag fanacht ar leapacha in Ospidéal Ollscoile na Gaillimhe

By
Sheila Ní Bheaglaoich
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Fógraíodh ar an suíomh INMO ar maidin go bhfuil líon ard othar ag fanacht ar leapacha in Ospidéal Ollscoile na Gaillimhe.

B’é Ospidéal Ollscoile na Gaillimhe agus Ospidéal Ollscoile Chorcaí an dá ospidéal in Éireann ar maidin leis an méid is mó othar ag fanacht ar leapacha.

Tá 47 othar ag fanacht ar leapacha sa dá Ospidéal agus 41 othar atá ag fanacht ar leapacha in Ospidéal Ollscoile Luimnigh.

Tuairiscíonn INMO an méid othar a mbíonn ag fanacht ar leapacha chuile lá agus bí 2018 an bliain is measa do plódú ospidéil nuair a raibh 108,227 othar gan leapacha.

Galway 2020 appoints Creative Director after eight month vacancy

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Galway 2020 appoints new Creative Director after eight month vacancy

Galway 2020 has appointed the creative company Artichoke to fulfill the Creative Director position which has been vacant for eight months.

Artichoke will act as the Creative Director of Galway 2020 under the leadership of its CEO and Artistic Director Helen Marriage.

The position of Creative Director at Galway 2020 has been vacant since the departure of Chris Baldwin at the end of last May.

Founded in 2005, Artichoke specialises in working with artists to create unique, large-scale public art experiences.

As part of the agreement Artichoke will also support the delivery of a significant fundraising drive as part of Galway 2020’s Partnership programme and help with other elements like audience development.

Patricia Philbin, CEO, Galway 2020 commented, “Artichoke’s proven track record of devising and producing extraordinary and ambitious large-scale events under the leadership of Helen Marriage positions the organisation perfectly for this strategically important role for Galway 2020.”

“Coupled with the vast expertise and creativity of the Galway 2020 team, we are excited about the ambitious and visionary display of arts and culture that we will deliver,” she added.

Artichoke is known in the arts world for its integrated approach to staging large-scale cultural events, shunning the traditional closed door venues of galleries and theatres for publix parks and plazas where they can reach the widest audience.

Helen Marriage said the company was thrilled to be working with Galway 2020 to deliver an artistic programme that exceeds expectations, and delivers a lasting legacy of economic impact and community engagement.

Artichoke is known for many innovative projects, and has been heavily involved in the Lumiere arts festivals in the UK in London, Durham, and Derry through the years.

Helen Marriage said they’re committed to making sure that 2020 will be “A truly memorable year for Galway as European Capital of Culture.”

Daughter of slain Oughterard publican gives grisly details at trial

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily courts

The daughter of Oughterard publican and teacher John Kenny spoke in detail about the terrible manner in which her father was killed in court this week.

Giving evidence at Galway Circuit Court, Gillian Kenny said that she believed a group of Romanian men, led by one person in particular, are responsible for her father’s death.

She described to the court how he was “made bits of”, beaten and strangled with multiple broken bones.

Marian Lingurar Jnr (24), is on trial for manslaughter of John Kenny (56), at Kenny’s Pub on Main Street in Oughterard on September 25, 2011.

Mr Linhurar has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, and to an additional charge of burglary by trespassing.

The Irish Independent reports that the prosecution opened the trial by describing John Kenny as a well like member of the community in Oughterard and Athenry where he taught at Presentation College.

He lived at his pub after an amicable separation from his wife Kathleen, with whom he remained good friends.

On the evening before Mr Kenny’s death the defendant was working as a bouncer at the pub.

After work, at roughly 1:30am, his father Marian Lingurar Snr drove the defendant home to Loughgeorge, along with another employee of the pub Florin Fitzpatrick.

The following morning a man found a broken phone on the ground near the pub, and dialled the last number on the phone.

That turned out to be Gillian Kenny who thought it was her father on the line. She and her mother had been trying without success to contact him.

The two women went straight to Kenny’s pub and went inside with a passer-by Myles Upton.

Inside the pub they found Mr Kenny’s body on the floor, with a jacket over his face and his hands tied behind his back.

A post-mortem examination would reveal that he died of blunt force trauma and “positional asphyxiation”.

It was explained that when restrained in that position a person would find it extremely difficult to breathe.

Prosecutor Patrick Gageby put it bluntly that Mr Kenny didn’t die of a heart attack, “He died because he was attacked, beaten, injured and left to die in the toilet of the family bar.”

The prosecution said that the defendant came back to Oughterard after work to rob the bar, and killed Mr Kenny.

Kathleen and Gillian Kenny added that the victim didn’t trust Mr Fitzpatrick, and was afraid of him.

Kathleen Kenny said that he told her that Fitzpatrick and others had taken over the bar.

Speaking for the defence Colman Fitzgerald put it to Mrs Kenny than in her original statement to gardaí, she said she thought Florin Fitzpatrick was to blame for John Kenny’s death.

The trial continues.

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