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Clifden has Ireland’s highest pass rate for the driving test

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Learner Permits fraud

If you’re taking your learner driver taking your driving test, it’s best to head west as Clifden test centre has the highest pass rate in the country by a wide margin.

The pass rate at Clifden was 77.31% in the first ten months of this year, 15% higher than the next best test centre at Newcastle, Limerick.

Data from the RSA released to TheJournal.ie shows that the majority of the best results were in the west, with Galway taking another spot on the top ten centres with a 60.44% pass rate at Tuam.

Overall the majority of drivers who sat their car test at one of the RSA’s 48 test centres between January and October failed this year.

Only 49.23% of people taking their car test in those ten months passed, but when you include those taking all kinds of driving test including motorcycle, bus, truck, the pass rate climbs to 52.4% across 49 test centres.

The top ten test centres by pass rate were:

  • Clifden, Galway (77.31%)
  • Newcastle, Limerick (62.34)
  • Donegal town (61.28%)
  • Tuam, Galway (60.44%)
  • Ennis, Clare (59.23%)
  • Buncrana, Donegal (59.07%)
  • Monaghan town (58.56%)
  • Cavan town (58.04%)
  • Roscommon town (57.98%)
  • Mallow, Cork (57.37%)

When looking at lower end of the scale the majority of the worst performing test centres were in Leinster.

Of the four test centres in Dublin, just one at Tallaght escaped positioning on the worst ten pass rates in the country.

Overall however just 18 of 48 test centres had failure rates of over half of learner sitting there driving test.

The test centres with the lowest pass rates for learner driver from January – October were:

  • Shannon, Clare (47.40%)
  • Letterkenny, Donegal (47.21%)
  • Dundalk, Louth (46.01%)
  • Athlone, Westmeath (45.02%)
  • Churchtown, Dublin (42.87%)
  • Clonmel, Tipperary (41.60%)
  • Finglas, Dublin (40.17%)
  • Raheny, Dublin (38.25%)
  • Kilkenny town (37.92%)
  • Kilrush, Clare (34.94%)

Of those 30 test centres with a majority pass rate in the first ten months of the year, just seven were in Leinster.

In contrast the best performing test centres were mostly located in the west and north of Ireland.

Government unsure what it’s “getting into” with Tuam Home excavation

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Legally permissible for Tuam Home survivors DNA sampling

Excavations at the site of the Former Tuam Mother and Baby Home won’t begin until the second half of 2019.

The Taoiseach said that the government doesn’t know yet what it’s “getting into” with the excavation of the Mother and Baby Home.

Legislation will need to pass through the Oireachtas giving the government the power to carry out excavations before any work can begin, the Taoiseach said in his end of year briefing.

In October the government decided to carry out a full excavation of the former Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home where it’s believed there are as many as 798 children and infants buried.

Galway Daily news Government warned that dragging out Tuam scandal could breach international law

The situation has changed significantly since this first came to the public eye.

Where it was initially said that any remains at the site would be unidentifiable, advances in genetic technology in the past few years have meant that it would be possible to take DNA samples from the children.

Those could be compared with samples from living donors who want to uncover the fate of relatives.

While legislation is making its way through the Dáil, Taoiseach Varadkar said the government “can start appointing the experts and the ground team who’ll be doing the actual work.”

He said that he didn’t believe that any kind of excavation of this size had taken place in Ireland before, but the government was convinced “this is the right thing to do, to remove the remains and to give those children a proper decent burial they didn’t get.

Splitting the bill

The full cost of the excavations could run as high as €12 million, the majority of which will be borne by the taxpayer.

The Bon Secours Order, which ran the Mother and Baby Home from 1925 to 1961, has offered a contribution of €2.5 million to the cost.

Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone wrote to Pope Francis over the summer saying the church had to accept responsibility for its role in this tragedy.

She said the Catholic Church should voluntarily make a significant financial contribution to the cost of dealing with this.

In a brief response to her letter Pope Francis said that he was praying for the efforts of the government, but made no mention of a contribution.

What happens with the excavation of the Tuam Home will have a significant impact on the work of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation.

The Commission was established in response to the Tuam story emerging and is investigating Mother and Baby Homes around the country.

Tour the newest ship in the Irish Navy down at the Docks

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Tour the newest ship in the Irish Navy over New Year's at the Docks

The latest ship to join the ranks of the Irish Navy, the LÉ George Bernard Shaw, will be open for the public to look around next week down at the Docks.

The LÉ George Bernard Shaw was brought into service with the navy this year and will have a formal naming ceremony in 2019.

The Offshore Patrol Vessel is the latest of four modern ships delivered to update the Irish Naval Service since 2014.

Free guided tours of the ship will be offered to the public by her crew on Monday, December 31 and Tuesday, January 1 from 2pm to 5pm.

The four ships built for the navy since 2014 are often referred to as the ‘Playwright’ sisters,

The LÉ George Bernard Shaw was preceded by the LÉ Samuel Beckett in 2014, the LÉ James Joyce in 2015, and the LÉ William Butler Yeats in 2016.

The Irish Navy has just begun a new recruitment drive to bolster it’s numbers.

There are currently just under 1,100 member of the Irish Naval Service branch of the Defence Forces.

Full details of the careers available the requirements can be found at military.ie/careers/naval-service.

Wildlife group clashes with government over tree felling in Connemara National Park

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news wildlife group clashed with government over destruction of land in Connemara National Park

The Irish Wildlife Trust has clashed with the Department of Heritage over the destruction of a patch of woodland in Connemara National Park.

The wildlife group said the public has lost out with the destruction of this forest, but the Department said their claims were “disingenuous” and “misleading”.

The Irish Wildlife Trust lodged a complain with Minister for Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan after a hectare of woodland in Connemara National Park was levelled.

The woodland, which IWT said was “evaluated by independent ecologists as of ‘high biodiversity value in a local context’,” was transferred from the National Parks and Wildlife Service to Galway County Council and subsequently levelled.

“The IWT understands that no compensatory land was sought by the NPWS from Galway County Council and so the public is now left with a smaller (and biologically poorer) National Park,” a statement said.

However the Department said that no additional land had been sought because the land was for use in an essential road safety project.

The hectare of woodland was levelled to make way for the straightening of a treacherous section of the N59 which also contains the entrance to Connemara National Park.

A department spokesperson said “the safety of our staff, visitors to our park in Connemara and the general public and local community remains paramount.”

The IWT said this was exchange was carried out without any public consultation process, and while an ecological impact report was prepared, “This was only after the NPWS had agreed to relinquish the land.”

The ecological impact report for the proposed realignment showed that the project would not impact on the conservation of any European site, the department said.

It was added that Padraig Fogarty, the IWT’s campaigns officer had been briefed “extensively” on the road and the necessary safety measures by officials from the NPWS.

Mr Fogarty disputed this, saying that he had to contact the NPWS himself.

The manner in which this exchange was carried out sets a bad precedent for sections of land from National Parks been cut off with no due process, according to the IWT.

“It’s really shocking to think that the NPWS, who are supposed to be the guardians of our natural heritage, can so easily sacrifice chunks of one of our country’s natural treasures,” said Padraig Fogarty.

“We’re disappointed, but not particularly surprised, that the Fine Gael government has signed off on this, given their poor regard for the environment.”

This was also disputed by the Department, which said it is committed to conserving 87,000 hectares of land across 80 national parks and other sites nationwide.

Connacht dominate Ulster in repeat victory

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily sport

Connacht are happy out heading into the New Year having completed their first ever double seasonal victory over Ulster.

The Ulstermen were coming to the Sportground looking for payback for their first home field loss to Connacht in more than half a century.

Andy Friend’s side were looking to regain their momentum after a bruising loss to Leinster at the RDS, finishing 21-12 against Ulster in a near repeat score of October’s match.

This victory moves Connacht ahead of Munster in Munster in Conference A in the Guinness Pro14, for now at least.

Connacht dominated much of the play with tries from Shane Delahunt, Bundee Aki and Caolin Blade.

The men of the west took the lead aggressively in the first half, with a scrum yielding a penalty in the first ten minutes.

Delahunt took it over the line and Carty converted, follwed up by a second effort from Aki that left Connacht 14-0 early on.

Ulster ate into Connacht’s lead before half time as Angus Kernohan halved the score deficit with the help of John Cooney after catching a fumble

But coming into the second half Connacht kept their momentum, buoyed by an 8,000 strong home crowd.

Not five minutes into the second Carty caught a kick through from Kyle Goodwin and handed into onto Caolin Blade who carried it through.

Carty pitched it over the bars again to restore Connacht’s 14 point lead.

Jodi Murphy’s score made a last ditch effort to put pressure on Connacht, but Cooney couldn’t make the conversion.

After a frentic last few minutes Connacht took home the victory and a good season’s record with six wins out of seven outings.

Scorers:

Connacht – Tries: Shane Delahunt, Bundee Aki, Caolin Blade. Conversions: Jack Carty 3 cons.

Ulster – Tries: Angus Kernohan, Jordi Murphy. Conversions: John Cooney 1.

Connacht – D Leader; C Kelleher, T Farrell, B Aki, K Godwin (S Fitzgerald 63); J Carty (D Horwitz 77), C Blade (J Mitchell 77); D Buckley (P McCabe 66), S Delahunt (D Heffernan 54), C Carey (D Robertson McCoy 40); G Thornbury, Q Roux (U Dillane 66); S O’Brien, C Fainga’a, J Butler (P Boyle 64).

Ulster – L Ludik; H Speight (D Shanahan 60), W Addison, D Cave, A Kernohan; J McPhillips (P Nelson 52), J Cooney; E O’Sullivan (T O’Hagan 48) (O’Sullivan 67), R Herring (A McBurney 77), M Moore (R Kane 48); I Nagle (C Ross 77), K Treadwell; N Timoney, J Murphy, M Coetzee (G Jones 46 HIA).

Ref – Marius Mitrea (FIR).

Calling all poets for Galway University Hospitals Poems for Patience 2019

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily life & style Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust invites entries for 2019 Poems for Patience

The Galway University Hospitals  Arts Trust is inviting the creative minds of Galway to submit entries for its annual poetry competition.

The winning entry will be displayed on the Arts Corridor of University Hospital Galway as part of 2019 Poems for Patience.

Poems for Patience is a long running series that has featured works by some of leading Irish and international poets like Seamus Heaney, Philip Schultz, Jane Hirschfield, Michael Longley, Naomi Shihab Nye, Vona Groarke, Tess Gallagher and many more.

In addition they’ll be invited to give a reading of their work at the 2019 Cúirt Literary Festival.

And if you’re travelling to for Cúirt then the winner will be provided with one night’s accommodation.

The winner will also be asked to pick six of their favourite works for consideration as a Featured Reader at the Over The Edge: Open Reading series in Galway City Library.

The entries will be judged by well known local writer Kevin Higgins, Writer-in-Residence with the GUH Arts Trust.

Mr Higgins is also co-organiser of Over The Edge literary events, teaches poetry workshops at Galway Arts Centre, Creative Writing at Galway Technical Institute, and is Creative Writing Director for the NUI Galway Summer School.

Competition judge Kevin Higgins

Entries to the competition should be no more than 32 lines long, and must of course be your own original work.

Poems that have previously been published in magazines or collections are allowed, and multiple entries are accepted.

To submit one poem to the competition is €10, and its an additional €7.50 per poem after that.

Entries should be sent by post to Bridget Cheasty, Arts Assistant, Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust.

The closing date for entries to Poems for Patience is February 22, 2019.

One of the worst speeding offences in garda campaign recorded in Galway

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Woman in her 80s seriously injured after being hit by car

One of the worst speeding offences recorded in the Gardaí’s Christmas and New Year’s road safety operation was in Ballinasloe.

A speeding driver in Ballinasloe was recorded doing 106km/hr in an 80km/hr zone down the R446.

An Garda Síochána report that 476 vehicles were recorded driving over the speed limit on Thursday, December 27.

However, overall that amounts to less than half a percent of the 101,900 vehicles monitored by road safety cameras yesterday.

Among the most notable was a motorcycle doing nearly twice the limit at 198km/hr in a 100km/hr zone in Westport, Co. Mayo.

Other speeding incidents the gardaí were a driver doing 122km/hr in a 50km/hr zone in Mount Brown, Dublin; someone going 109km/hr in a 60/hr zone on the N25 in Dungarvan, Waterford; and a person doing 135km/hr on the M7 at Portlaoise, Laois.

Gardaí thanked the vast majority of drivers who drive responsibly, but noted that many do not.

It was added that speeding remains the single largest factor in road traffic collisions.

Gardaí are out on the roads in force over the holidays, with additional checkpoints and speed traps around Christmas and New Year’s

145 people have been killed on our roads so far this year.

Plans to replace vacant Salthill house with blocks of apartments

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Approval granted for Salthill apartments

A planning application is currently with the city council to demolish a house and redevelop the site for an infill apartment complex.

Catena Property Company Ltd are applying for permission to demolish a house at 105 Salthill Road Upper and build 39 apartments with balconies on the site.

According to the the developer’s application, the single-storey home to be demolished has been vacant for some time.

The development would consist of two blocks of apartments, a 6-8 storey Block A with 27 apartments facing the adjacent Toft Park, and a 3-4 storey Block B with 12 apartments facing onto Salthill Road Upper.

The design also includes a ground floor courtyard with sculpture and a play area, and a rainwater harvesting system.

Both blocks would also have roof gardens and patios at the penthouse level.

One objection has been received by the city council by the owners of a neighbouring property.

They are concerned that the size of the apartment complex represents a significant over development of the site, with a plot density beyond what’s permitted by the city development plan.

Concerns were also raised that the eight storey block would be significantly taller than any other building in the area and would both overlook and overshadow neighbours.

Galway city council is due to make a decision on whether to grant planning permission for these apartments by January 3.

Galway Hospice collecting at Connacht v Ulster clash this evening

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily sport Galway Hospice collecting at hotly anticipated Connacht Ulster clash

Connacht and Ulster are clashing here in Galway this evening, and Galway Hospice will be there to raise funds through a bucket collection.

There’s huge anticipation ahead of this match as Ulster are coming to Galway to pay Connacht back for a 22-15 defeat in Belfast in October.

This was the first time in 58 years that Connacht had managed to top the Ulstermen on their home ground.

While you’re down enjoying the match, take a moment to stop by and show your support Galway Hospice’s work looking after the most vulnerable among us.

Speaking ahead of the game, Head Coach Andy Friend says his side are fully aware of the challenge that an in form Ulster side will present.

“These interpro fixtures are massive occasions and when they take place over the Christmas period, they bring that increased level of excitement.”

“We know there will be a big home crowd in the Sporstground and we will need to be up for the occasion with Ulster coming to town.”

“This block of fixtures is hugely important in the context of our season, but we are not looking beyond Ulster on Friday evening.”

Quin Roux and Sean O’Brien have returned to Connacht’s starting line-up ahead of the interprovincial clash this evening.

This is one of a number of changes that have been made to the side after a narrow defeat by Leinster at the RDS last week.

“Commenting on the team selection Andy Friend said “Quinn Roux and Sean O’Brien are fit and ready to go and they come back into the side. They have been two of our top performers this season, so they will give us increased options.”

“In the front row we also have Shane Delahunt and Conor Carey coming in. These are two other players who have been going really well over the past few weeks.”

“We have some real depth in these positions so it is great for us as coaches to have these options and to bring in fresh legs and know that they are ready to go.”

“Ulster are coming off the back of a great win over Munster and I’m sure they will come to the Sportsground full of confidence.”

The match kicks off at 7:35pm at the Sportsground.

Galway TD welcomes scheme to get young people angling

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Galway TD welcomes scheme to get more young people into angling

Galway Eats TD Seán Canney has welcomed a sponsorship programme to “bring angling to the people” and encourage young people to pick up a fishing rod.

Inland Fisheries Ireland recently launched its Sponsorship Programme for 2019 and is inviting applications for suitable angling events and initiatives nationwide.

Last year the programme sponsored  62 Irish angling events and 10 teams representing Ireland in overseas at international events.

Deputy Canney, who is also the Minister with responsibility for Inland Fisheries, said the programme did a wonderful job supporting novice or junior anglers.

“I support Inland Fisheries Ireland’s aim to help ‘bring angling to the people’ by supporting initiatives which help remove barriers to those looking to try fishing or for younger people who already enjoy the pursuit.”

“IFI is working to support events and initiatives which promote the angling tourism product with a view to growing angler tourist numbers and economic return.”

Last year 630 young people and novices took part in fishing events sponsored by this programme at 17 fishing clubs around the country.

As a result, some 300 of them joined a fishing club for the first time.

In addition to get people involved for the first time, 28 large scale events were held which drew massive attendance from around Ireland, and 800 anglers from outside the country.

The events which will qualify for funding under the 2019 Programme include:

International competitions held in Ireland, novice angler events and training courses, initiatives to promote fisheries awareness and conservation, and sending teams of junior anglers to represent Ireland at international competitions.

Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development at Inland Fisheries Ireland said: “Our 2019 Sponsorship Programme will play an important role in driving angling participation among novice and junior anglers.”

“The Sponsorship Programme has awarded €30,000 per year over the past five years to angling clubs and groups nationwide to help in the delivery of local angling events.”

“In addition to supporting those who are casting for the first time, we also have a unique opportunity to grow our angling tourism product.

“The Sponsorship Scheme offers clubs and associations an incentive to engage overseas anglers to visit our renowned wild fisheries and to enjoy fishing here in a conservation focused manner.”

IFI’s Nation Strategy for Angling Development aims to provide supports to make angling more accessible and develop it as a tourist feature.

It’s hoped this will bring significant economic benefits to rural communities where much of it takes place, while still conserving fish stocks and habitats.

Applications for the 2019 Sponsorship Programme are open until January 18 to fishing clubs, groups or any local community that wants to organise an event.

Stephen Walsh returns for seventh season with Galway United

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily sport Stephen Walsh returning to Galway United for seventh season

Stephen Walsh will be returning for his seventh season at Eamon Deacy Park after re-signing with Galway United.

Since coming over from the Galway Hibernians in 2010, the 28 year old has appeared for Galway United 175 times.

In those six seasons with the club, the centre back has scored eight goals.

Walsh was the 12th signing secured by United boss Alan Murphy ahead of the 2019 season.

“It’s a relief and statement to get Stephen signed back for next season. He’s prepared to put his shoulder to the wheel and lead by example both on and off the pitch,” Murphy said.

“At 28, he’s now a senior pro in the squad and knows his role. He’s a week-in, week out, solid performer that knows the club.”

“What is very identifiable is his passion and how he really wants to play League of Ireland for Galway United.

“He’s Galway through and through, and he’s going to be a real leader for us, but also, he’s a real talent.

“Stephen has a cultured left foot and there is nobody that wants to win headers or battles more,” Murphy enthused.

“So he really brings a lot of talent and commitment to the table and I’m delighted to have him back for next season.”

Donegal family donate €3,325 to Patient Fund at UHG

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Donegal couple donate €3,325 to patient fund at UHG

A couple from Donegal recently came down to Galway to present a €3,325 cheque for the Claddagh Ward Patient Comfort Fund at UHG.

James Melly and his wife Mary from Lettermacaward raised the money to show their gratitude for the care he received at UHG three years ago.

In 2015 James was treated with chemotherapy at University Hospital Galway’s Claddagh Ward.

Afterwards the family organised a musical evening with the Galway Band Old Trusty, of which their son is a member.

The musical evening raised a total of €6,650 which the couple split evenly between UHG and Letterkenny University Hospital.

The couple presented the cheque to Karen Mulhall, Clinical Nurse Specialist; Deirdre O’Halloran, Clinical Nurse Manager and Mairead Murphy, Staff Nurse at the Claddagh Ward.

Clinical Nurse Manager Debbie O’Halloran expressed her gratitude to the Melly’s for their generosity.

Galway has Ireland’s highest number of farm trespassing incidents

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Farmers getting €13.4 million basic payment scheme refunds

Farmers in Galway reported the highest number of trespassing incidents this year as farmers face growing concern about people trespassing on their land.

There were 79 incidents of people trespassing on land and enclosed areas in Galway reported to Gardaí this year, more than any other county.

According to the Irish Farmers Journal some 862 trespassing cases have been reported to the gardaí in 2018 throughout Ireland.

Farmers have been highlighting this issue of illegal hare course, and report that it can make them feel powerless when confronted with groups of men hunting with dogs on their land.

The worst counties after Galway this year were Limerick, 77 incidents, and Kildare with 71.

Figures from the CSO show that since 2013, Limerick has racked up the highest number of incidents with 784 reports to gardaí.

That’s more than twice the national average over the past five years.

On top of illegal hunting farmers have had to contend with rural crime as travelling gangs have been burglarising farms up and down the country.

The IFA has rejected garda assertions that rural crime is falling, instead saying that rural thefts and burglaries are more common and more violent

Galway filmmaker shows cultural heritage of seasonal grazing and dry stone walls

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily life & style two short documentaries celebrate shared cultural heritage of Galway and Europe

Between the Region of Gastronomy 2018 and the build up starting to the Capital of Culture 2020, one thing that may have slipped people’s attention is that 2018 was also the European Year of Cultural Heritage.

As we come up towards the New Year’s and try to think of resolutions no-one could reasonably be expected to keep Galway Film Centre is presenting two Stories From the Landscape that embrace out heritage.

These are two short documentaries shot in Ireland and Austria that tell the story of out shared European heritage.

Director Paul Murphy shot ‘The Cattle Drove’ and ‘The Stone Hut’ to show how some of the oldest aspects of our culture are commonly shared.

The Cattle Drove shows the tradition of moving livestock to different grazing grounds in a seasonal cycle that goes back as long as people have been farming in the region.

Working with Clare County Council Paul followed the Burren Beo group through the Burren Winterage Festival celebrating these ancient traditions which allow the region’s unique plant and animal life to flourish.

Over in Europe the film also shows one of the largest and oldest movement of sheep in the Alps and herds are brought between the Ötztal valley and Senales Valley in South Tyrol.

The Stone Hut shows the people who hold onto the ancient skills of maintaining dry stone walls.

In the Langenlois region of Austria, when the dry stone walls bounding ancient family vineyards began to crumble, they turned to experts from Galway to help them revive this tradition.

Along the way the film visits two festivals that celebrate it, Féile na gCloch on Inis Oírr and Stein Und Wein in Austria.

Announced in 2017, this year was about nation’s and communities showing off their heritage for other to see, and highlighting out connections to shared history and culture.

The theme in Ireland was ‘Make a Connection’, with events throughout the year aimed at deepening people’s engagement with their heritage and leaving a lasting legacy.

Galway Film Centre Manager, Alan Duggan said, “Partnering with our heritage colleagues in Galway, Clare and Austria and working together to celebrate our shared heritage makes for a really exciting project.”

Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council Eileen Mannion added “The Féile na gCloch Festival in Inis Oírr is a fantastic example of a community working together to preserve and celebrate their shared heritage.”

You can watch both short documentaries on Galway Film Centre’s website here.

Three groups supporting victims of crime in Galway share in €1.7 million fund

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Tusla admits failing in case of three girls abused in Galway foster care

Three groups in Galway supporting victims of crime will receive a share of nearly €2 million funding for such groups next year.

Hope Trust,  COPE Galway’s Waterside House, and Domestic Violence Response Galway are three of 57 victim support groups who will share in the fund.

Hope Trust provides counselling services for people who’ve been a victim of crime in Galway and Roscommon.

COPE’s Waterside house provides refuge and assistance for those escaping from domestic violence, as well as accompaniment to court appointments.

Domestic Violence Response Galway is also getting backing for it’s court accompaniment service.

Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan announced €1.712 million will be provided to organisations supporting victims in 2019 , the same amount as in 2017.

In addition, many of the other groups which will receive funding such as Barnardos, supporting child victims, and the Rape Crisis Network operate nationwide.

Minister Flanagan said these groups provide essential support to many people in need.

“The ongoing direct help being provided to victims of crime and to their families and friends by our victim support services makes a hugely valuable and vital contribution in Irish society.”

“I warmly applaud all of the staff and volunteers in these services for their dedicated, professional and sensitive work in helping so many of our people during what is invariably a distressing and very often traumatic time in their lives.”

This funding will be distributed to non-governmental organisations through the Department of Justice and Equality’s Victim of Crime Office.

The announcement doesn’t reveal how much each organisation will specifically receive.

Headford housing development cuts down on number of houses planned

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Planning appeal over 91 houses & apartments in Athenry

A large housing development under construction in Headford is applying to reduce the number of planned homes.

Sathel Ltd has submitted a planning application to cut down the density of a housing development at Gortnamona, Headford to 70 units.

The development adjacent to the existing unfinished Ashtorn Avenue Estate has been in the works since 2004.

Construction work began on “Ashtorn Grove” in May of last year.

It was originally intended for the estate to have 76 houses and a creche, but the design has been revised to have a wider variety of houses less packed together.

In the revised design the completed estate will consist of 14 four-bed, semi-detached houses; 36 three-bed. semi-detached units, and 8 two-bed, semi-detached units.

There will also be 8 three-bed terraced houses, and 4 two-bed terraced units.

The estate will connect to the N84 through the existing Ashtorn Avenue estate.

One submission has been made to the county council concerned by a local concerned about the increase in traffic the new estate will bring.

A decision is due from the county council on whether to grant this application by January.

Galway has some of the nation’s lowest number of Criminal Assets Bureau targets

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Galway has among the lowest number of Criminal Assets Bureau targets in Ireland

Galway has among the lowest number of Criminal Assets Bureau targets on the books as overall numbers go through the roof.

The total number of targets jumped from 600 to 978 this year, leaving CAB officers expecting that by year’s end this will prove to be their busiest ever year in the courts.

The Galway Garda division has some of the lowest numbers of targets with just 17 this year.

On top of seizing money and assets connected to criminal activity and collecting unpaid tax, the Criminal Assets Bureau has been active in tackling benefits fraud.

The lone parent allowance is one benefit in particular that has been abused, where the partners of criminals deny that they’re living together.

According to the Irish Independent nearly half of CAB’s targets this year are based out of Dublin, some 462 spread out across the different divisions.

Outside of the capital the most active area was Limerick city and county with 72 targets.

A major portion of the credit for the increase this year has done to briefings given by CAB officers to joint policing committees in local divisions.

The head of the bureau Detective Chief Superintendent Pat Clavin said that telling JPC’s about the work they do and the benefits of seizing assets has gotten a great response.

The Criminal Assets Bureau is going to keep putting a heavy focus on tracking travelling gangs responsible for a surge in rural burglaries and other crimes.

There are currently 78 people on the target list with unexplained wealth suspected of coming from crime.

If someone has information they suspect might be of use to the Criminal Assets Bureau they can inform a local profiler, and the bureau will take it from there.

The CAB now employs 378 profilers around the country, up by one hundred on last year. Of those the vast majority are gardaí.

The bureau has revenue powers and the authority to seize assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

According to officers with the bureau, the majority of their targets like to stay close to home where they can flash their criminal wealth in front of long time neighbours.

More than €15 million paid out to Galway lotto players this year

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Galway lotto players won over €15 million in prize money this year

Lotto players in Galway took home more than €15 million in prize money this year.

The single largest win in Galway was €8,549,067 won by a syndicate on a ticket bought at Corrib Oil Service Station in Loughrea, the largest lotto jackpot payout this year.

Galway was the fourth luckiest county in Ireland in 2018 for lotto players.

The National Lottery has paid out almost half a billion euros to lotto winners so far this year, including creating 23 new millionaires.

2018’s largest prize was a €17 million EuroMillions jackpot win by Stakelums Hardware syndicate in Thurles Tipperary.

According to the National Lottery, the €436.6 million in prizes players took home represents a return of 57 cents on every euro spent on tickets.

The National Lottery is required to pay a minimum of 50c in prizes on every euro players spend.

Almost 30c of every euro spent went to good causes including groups for sport, arts, heritage, youth, and community.

The Irish Times reports that Dublin took homes the largest pile of prize money at just under €30 million, followed by Tipperary (€19.5m), Cork (€19.1m), and Galway (€15.6m).

Online lotto sales have increased dramatically in recent years, with more and more players buying their tickets on the internet.

There are almost half a million players registered with the National Lottery online, and sales jumped by 17% in 2018.

This year one online player netted a jackpot of €7.1 million, one of six big winners since 2009.

A spokesperson for the National Lottery said that in the modern age it was essential that the organisation have an online sales presence.

However they said there are protections in place for problem gamblers to some degree.

Online players are restricted to the still larger figure of €75 spend per day, and €300 a week.

You can also only play online between 7am and 11pm for draw-based games and 7am to 11pm for online games.

Hundreds of Galway homes could be lost to the ocean

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news

Hundreds of family homes in Galway are at serious risk from coastal erosion.

A report commissioned by local authorities found that Galway is the most endangered county in Ireland with 263 properties in danger of being swallowed by the sea.

Violent storms and the growing effects of climate change have made it extremely perilous for people to continue living next to the coast, which is a problem in Ireland.

As a small island nation, some 40% of Ireland’s population, or 1.9 million people, live within 5km of the coast.

Of those more than 40,000 live within one hundred metres of the sea and have been warned about the dangers of coastal erosion.

According to the Irish Independent there are 824 properties at risk of being washed away by coastal erosion.

This report, ‘Local Authority Coastal Erosion Policy and Practice Audit’, was commissioned by the City and County Managers Association.

It found that on top of the risk to properties, 154km of roads in Galway and a landfill in the city are in danger or falling into the sea.

South Park landfill, which hasn’t been used as a dump in over 50 years, was deemed of ‘medium risk’ by the report, one of six landfills nationwide at risk.

Minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Kevin Boxer Moran said the OPW should be assigned responsibility for dealing with coastal erosion.

Currently it falls under the purview of the Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government.

He added that he intends to raise the matter with the cabinet in the new year and wants a comprehensive study to assess the risks from this “major threat”.

Despite the major danger to homes right on the coastline, it isn’t reflected in council practices, with just eight councils imposing a 30-100m buffer on developments next to an eroding coastline.

Sligo County Council is the only one which has approved no planning applications next to dangerous coasts in the past five years.

The report warns that policy is underdeveloped for dealing with coastal erosion, and funding is urgently required for defence works.

Fields of Athenry 10km St. Stephen’s Day run draws 1,300 runners

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily sport 1,300 turn out for fields of athenry 10km run

The streets of Athenry were crowded with roughly 1,300 runners yesterday for the annual 10km Fields of Athenry run.

Runners set off from Athenry train station at 11am on St. Stephen’s Day and finished up at the town’s historic arch which marks the last of the old gates to the medieval walled town.

The last of the runners crossed the finish line of the 10km run within 40 minutes of the starting gun.

This year’s Men’s Winner was Mike Clohisey, also the winner of this year’s National marathon, with a time of 29 minutes and 46 seconds.

The Women’s winner was Laura Shaugnessy, one of Ireland’s top runners, coming in at 34 minutes and 56 seconds.

This was the 17th annual Fields of Athenry run organised by Athenry Athletics Club.

Pat Callanan Property was the main sponsor of this year’s race.

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