A lotto player who bought a €250,000 ticket in Galway city in August is running out of time to claim their prize.
The winning ticket for the Lotto Plus 2 draw was sold at Eason’s on Shop Street in the city on August 31, but the prize has never been claimed.
Lotto winners have 90 days to get in touch with the National Lottery and claim their prize, a deadline that expires on November 30.
Chief Executive of the National Lottery Dermot Griffin asked anyone who thinks they may have played the lotto on that date to double check their pockets for this golden ticket.
The winning numbers for the draw that took place on September 1 were 3, 14, 24, 26, 30, 33 and the bonus number was 1.
Galway has had a string of good luck with the lotto lately as recently a couple passing through the west won €4.4 million on a ticket they bought at the newsagents on a whim.
If someone has the winning ticket they should sign the back of it to prove ownership as it is the only thing they can use to claim their prize.
Prizes that are not claimed by the 90 day deadline will be used to promote the National Lottery.
The Supreme Court has ruled that a teacher who worked at a pre-school for Traveller children for 20 years was not an employee of the Minister for Education, and was not entitled to the pension benefits she applied for.
Anne Boyle was an employee of Hillside Park pre-school for Traveller children, which receives grant funding from the Department of Education.
Throughout her employment with Hillside Park, 98% of Ms Boyle’s salary was paid for by the Department of Education.
In 2009 she applied for access to the national school teachers superannuation scheme, but was rejected by the Department which sad she was not a national school teacher.
According to the Irish Times, the Supreme Court ruled that the Minister was not involved in a ‘contract of service’ with Ms Boyle.
The five judge panel’s ruling overturns a decision by the Labour Court which was upheld by the High Court and Court of Appeal.
The court noted that this ruling had the potential to have a wide ranging impact on a category of employment arrangement where a third party supplies funding for the contract.
Ms Boyle, of Monivea Park in Galway city, was not in court for the ruling on her pension.
Lack of resources for pension scheme
The Supreme Court said that the lack of a pension scheme for Ms Boyle was more connected to a lack of resources at her school than anything connected to the Minister.
Ms Boyle was the only teacher at Hillside Park, which operated for three hours a day on weekdays and was run by a committee of volunteers.
It was never a National or recognised school within the definition of the 1998 Education Act.
In 2011 the school closed down after the Minister abolished the grants it ran on and introduced a universal pre-school system.
When Ms Boyle complained of discrimination in how pensions were allocated, the Labour Court awarded her €10,000.
When the government appealed that decision the High Court found that she was entitled to compensation, but asked the Labour Court to revise its compensation sum.
The Supreme Court decided that though the majority of education in Ireland is funded by the state, the teacher has their contractual obligations to the board of management.
The case on Ms Boyle’s pension was decided on whether there was a ‘contract of service’ between her and the Minster.
The court decided that though the funding for her job came from the Minister, it was paid from Hillside Park.
If you aren’t getting a great night’s rest, it may be time to stop counting sheep, and sleep on one instead. A Galway farmer has developed a wool pillow, that is completely organic, hypoallergenic and chemical free. It’s natural wool fibers are covered in high-quality cotton. It’s called the Woolow.
Michael Burke of Tuam, still lives on his family’s homestead where sheep have been raised for more than 200 years. He says that as a child he helped with the family flock and that included helping shear them when the time came.
“And my dad took some of the wool from the sheep that I sheared and made a pillow out of it,” he tells me. “That was the best pillow I ever had. It was just the right amount of support, and because it’s a natural fiber is regulates temperature. I didn’t realize all that back then, I just loved that pillow.”
As an adult he spent years working in healthcare and began to realize a real need for that old pillow he loved so much. It solved so many problems. Wool is hypo-allergenic for those who suffer with allergies and asthma, it repels water, mould and mildew. Dust mites can’t survive in wool. It’s a completely renewable resource. And it’s completely biodegradable. So he ruminated on how to develop it.
Burke has now taken over the farm, which has converted to being completely organic. He’s passionate about biodiversity, renewable resources, living chemical-free and focusing on things that are recyclable. The Woolow ticks all those boxes.
Michael Burke & Ciaran Sheridan developers of Woolow.
So when he met up with business developer Ciaran Sheridan, the idea bloomed. Within the last year they have developed a prototype, found the right partners for large scale manufacturing in Dublin and launched a Kickstarter campaign.
And while using wool is an age old idea, his marketing strategy is all modern.
They don’t plan on having or using stores, that’s old school. Instead they plan to show off the pillows at selected environmentally friendly home shows, and do business online.
“It makes sense, it’s the future of business and it gives us a global marketplace,” Sheridan says. “We will take the Woolows to shows and let people see them and feel them and get feedback. But we already know once you try a Woolow, you’ll never go back.”
Three Galway teams chase Connacht silverware this weekend. Naomh Anna Leitir Moir take on Sligo’s Tourlestrane in junior; Kilkerrin/Clonberne tackle All-Ireland champions Carnacon in the senior final; and St. Brendan’s take on Mayo’s Westport in the intermediate final.
The meeting of Kilkerrin/Clonberne and Carnacon is one of the eagerly awaited matches this year after their epic draw and replay in 2017. Kilkerrin/Clonberne scored 6-14 in last year’s Connacht Final but it wasn’t enough as the Cora Staunton led Carnacon ended up with 5-17 to force another day out.
And the following week, the Galway champions looked on course as they led 2-13 to 2-10 near the conclusion but Carnacon found a way to take the win as Staunton and Amy Dowling struck late goals for the Mayo outfit.
As expected, Carnacon won their 20th Mayo title with a comfortable 9-10 to 0-4 win over Knockmore but their biggest threat came off the field as the club were briefly thrown out of the championship. That was the fallout from their players removed themselves from the Mayo set up.
Not that these champions, chasing a 17th Connacht win, needed motivation but they will have an extra incentive to succeed again. Martha Carter, Marie Corbett and Doireann Hughes are strong defenders; Fiona McHale and Dowling will operate the middle third; while Staunton must be well marshalled.
Kilkerrin/Clonberne are under former Galway boss Kevin Reidy and restored their domestic dominance with a 7-16 to 3-6 dismantling of Corofin in the county final. And the two-time Connacht champions didn’t let up against Roscommon champions Kilbride as they finished with an 8-19 to 0-3 win.
Kilkerrin/Clonberne’s strength in depth was tested over the last month without injured All-Star nominee Nicola Ward and suspended forward Chloe Miskell. But both are expected to be available on Saturday.
Lisa Murphy is between the sticks with Sarah Gormally at full back; half backs Siobhan Fahy, Lisa Gannon and Hannah Noone are a solid trio as are midfielders Siobhan Divilly and captain Louise Ward; while Olivia Divilly, Annette Clarke, Ailish Morrissey, Lynsey and Eva Noone are dangerous attackers.
The test will be Kilkerrin/Clonberne’s composure when this game is in the melting pot. They had Carnacon on the ropes twice in 2017 but their opponents won the All-Ireland. That hurt could inspire a reversal in fortunes but Carnacon’s determination cannot be underestimated.
Verdict: Kilkerrin/Clonberne
Saturday, 3rd November 2018
Connacht Junior Ladies Football Final
Naomh Anna Leitir Moir vs Tourlestrane (1pm Ballyhaunis)
Connacht Senior Ladies Football Final
Kilkerrin/Clonberne vs Carnacon (3.30pm Ballyhaunis)
Throw away everything in the kitchen that tempts you or causes you to go off track (donate it if you don’t want to waste food). Please don’t rely on will power alone you can. For the next few weeks pick activities that support your focus for now. Maybe it’s time for a workout partner; when you don’t feel like it they can force you and vice versa. Tell your friends, family or social media what your goals are so you will have accountability support and then get to work.
2. START SMALL
It takes less than you think to challenge your body and start inspiring changes. But you should mainly start small because your biggest friend right now is: momentum. Starting small makes sticking with it more likely and will provide small wins that build confidence and add momentum
3. SET A SCHEDULE AND STICK TO IT
The calendar app on your phone is your friend . Schedule your workouts, meals or hike dates like they are your important meetings at work that you would NEVER MISS. Write it down, pick a time, and don’t cancel on yourself. Your workout should be just as much a habit as brushing your teeth or eating breakfast. When it’s part of your routine, you won’t even have to think about it. In a few months, fitness can be a regular feature in your day.
4. TRACK IT
Keep a fitness journal or use an app to record your progress — for example, how much you run, walk, or lift and the calories you burn.
5. MIX IT UP
Do different types of workouts to keep things interesting and to exercise different muscle groups. If the elliptical machine is usually your thing, hop on the stair climber for some cardio instead. Also, switch between machines and free weights when you strength-train. You don’t have to reinvent your entire routine every week, but you do want to shift it around a little.
6. JUST DO IT
I realise this is easier said than done but there is no way around it. You just have to do it. There is never the perfect time to start, refer to the other steps, but just do it. Start today!
Plans to commemorate all those from the Loughrea area who have died in past wars or in service with the United Nations have been welcomed by Galway East TD Ciaran Cannon.
Minister Cannon has said the event will be an important occasion to remember the sacrifice of local people and the need to work towards the promotion of peace.
Minister Cannon said: “I was very pleased to learn of the installation in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin entitled Fallen Leaves which commemorates the 36,000 Irish men and women who died in World War One.
“Four years in the making, the installation began with a Tree of Remembrance on which visitors were invited to leave messages and since that time, some 220,000 leaf-shaped messages have been left on the Tree.
“A few months ago, a team of volunteers began threading invisible wire through 36,000 of these messages and the resulting installation will be on view to the public throughout November.
“This very vivid installation gives visitors to the Cathedral an opportunity for reflection on war and its consequences and I welcome the plans to honour people from the Loughrea area who have died in past wars or in service with the United Nations, and those who returned.”
The event will take place on Sunday 11th November at 1 p.m. at the Memorial outside Galway County Council’s Office on Barrack Street.
A study carried out by NUI Galway has found that the majority of land cultivating beans will be unable to support them by 2050.
Currently, most beans that we consume are cultivated in the South-East of Africa.
But a study of crop simulation models, field trials and molecular laboratory experiments analysing yields found that most of those areas will be unfit for bean cultivation by the half century mark.
Lead Scientist on the study Charles Spillane said their research will contribute to the growing body of evidence that climate change is affecting agriculture.
“Our results highlight the need for accelerated development and seed-system distribution of heat-tolerant and drought-tolerant common bean varieties that can maintain yields while also improving nutritional quality, for example, through genetic ‘biofortification’ breeding under future climate change scenario,” he said.
An analysis of beans grown in drought conditions found that on top of reduced yields, those that did grow had lower levels of important nutrients like iron, protein, and zinc.
They also had higher levels of substances that negatively affect human health like phytic acid and lead.
Dr Andy Jarvis with the CGIAR research programme on Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security said that decreasing nutritional value from beans would have a devastating impact in many parts of the world.
“Such loss of dietary nutrients in foods will further aggravate the nutritional deficiency experienced by hundreds of millions of people, particularly the poorest in developing countries in Asia and Africa.”
This research was carried out as a joint study between Ireland and Malawi, with international partners.
NUI Galway, the CGIAR Research Program, and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), all contributed to the study.
It was funded by CGIAR, Irish Aid, and the Science Foundation Ireland.
PhD students involved in the research Marijke Hummel and Brendan Hallahan added that iron deficiency is a major public health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa.
They also noted that for three years running there has been a rise in global hunger, with climate change and climate extremes playing a large role in affecting food supply.
The family who won a €4.4 million Lotto jackpot with a ticket bought in Milltown, Galway have said that their lifestyle won’t change dramatically.
The couple from the south of Ireland, who wish to remain anonymous, collected their multimillion prize at the headquarters of the National Lottery this week.
Ryan’s Daybreak in Milltown sold the winning ticket for the €4.4 million jackpot last week.
There was no plan for this, the Irish Independent reports, they were simply passing through the west of Ireland as tourists when they decided to play a ticket at the newsagents on a whim.
According to them, when they heard the news that someone had bought the winning ticket in Galway, they hardly dared to hope that it might be them.
When they realised that they were those winners, instead of going mad, the couple chose to spend their time thinking about how their winnings could benefit the community.
Starting with friends and family they though could lend a hand to, they then began thinking about the charities in their local area that they could help.
But far be it from them to use their own lottery winnings to their own benefit, they plan to pay off their mortgage and make sure that their children have a secure future.
Beyond that they don’t really plan to alter their lifestyle in any drastic manner after their lotto win.
Both of them fully intend to return to their work as soon as they can, and carry on the same relationships they had before.
They said that they only that will change is how they can help the people they care about, and contribute to their community.
Lough Rea Hotel & Spa County Senior Camogie Semi-Final – Monday, 29th October 2018
Sarsfields 1-11 Mullagh 1-10
Darren Kelly in Loughrea
Sarsfields are back in the county senior camogie final after two late frees from Siobhan and Niamh McGrath. After trailing 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time, the defending champions clawed their way back before Niamh McGrath’s long delivery cannoned off keeper Catriona Daly’s stick for the game’s opening goal.
When Maria Cooney added a point, Sarsfields were 1-9 to 0-8 ahead but Mullagh stormed back into the tie as Aoife Donohue rattled a shot to the net before Tegan Canning and Rachel Monaghan put them ahead.
But after Sarsfields overturned the deficit, Mullagh failed to force extra-time and for the third consecutive year, their championship dreams were shattered. Mullagh had the wind in the first half but made the suprising decision to play a sweeper as they attempted to stop Sarsfields’ goal threat.
It succeeded but Siobhan McGrath took Sarah Spellman’s pass in the second minute before turning inside and saw her lob over Daly drop over the bar. That was her only point from play though Niamh and Orlaith McGrath gave Sarsfields a 0-3 to 0-2 advantage on 11 minutes.
Mullagh’s scores came from two Aoife Donohue frees as they took time settling but started to take over entering the third quarter. Monaghan got the equaliser on 18 minutes before Karen Kennedy gave Mullagh the lead with an excellent strike from the right flank.
Their half backs were holding firm and attackers grew in confidence. Canning and Therese Manton set up Monaghan for the fifth on 20 minutes before two more placed balls from Monaghan made it 0-7 to 0-3.
Mullagh could have had a goal as a long-range Monaghan delivery on 28 minutes forced keeper Laura Glynn to be alert. However, beforehand, Siobhan McGrath had strong penalty claims after dispossessing Daly.
Orlaith McGrath and Donohue traded giving Mullagh an 0-8 to 0-4 half-time advantage. Daly delivering a stunning one handed save to deny Orlaith McGrath after the restart but Siobhan McGrath converted four frees to level before setting up sister Niamh for the goal on 46 minutes. But Mullagh rallied back and nobody would have complained if extra-time was needed.
Sarsfields will be favourites for the final but will know Ardrahan can’t be taken lightly. Glynn in goal; Erica Leslie, Maria Cooney, Niamh, Orlaith and Siobhan McGrath were their top performers. Daly in goal; Claudia Lowry, Sarah Dervan, Aoife Donohue, Monaghan and Kennedy did best for Mullagh.
Lough Rea Hotel & Spa Senior Camogie Semi-Final
RESULT!!! Sarsfields 1-11 Mullagh 1-10
County Final v Ardrahan Sunday 11th November
— Sarsfields Camogie Club, Galway 🇳🇬 (@SarsfieldsCC) October 29, 2018
Lough Rea Hotel & Spa County Senior Camogie Semi-Finals – Monday, 29th October 2018
Ardrahan 1-8 St. Thomas 0-8
Darren Kelly in Loughrea
Ardrahan qualified for the County Senior Camogie Final on Monday after Brenda Kerins’ goal five minutes from time finally gave the south Galway side a winning margin. St. Thomas only split the posts once in open play as nine wides undone their championship challenge.
Ardrahan had the wind in the first half and took an early three-point advantage. Rebecca Hennelly delivered one of her best performances in 2018 working hard to win possession in rucks as well as splitting the posts when required.
She struck two frees while also taking Ava Lynskey’s pass for another as they went 0-3 to 0-0 ahead. And the latter came close to breaking the deadlock as well only for St. Thomas full back Lorraine Coen to make the critical block.
The first half was always going to be about damage limitation for St. Thomas and they finally got off the mark with Sarah Healy’s long range free on nine minutes. The All-Star nominee added another before the quarter hour but that was the extent of their first half scoring.
Ardrahan led 0-5 to 0-2 at half-time as Hennelly got a free before a 27th minute 45. However, their cushion looked insufficient with the elements but another Hennelly free upon the restart put Ardrahan four ahead. But two more Healy frees left St. Thomas just 0-6 to 0-4 behind on 37 minutes.
Vinny Healy’s team needed a greater spread of scorers and they had some opportunities only to be off target. And when Cliodhna Walsh pointed for Ardrahan on 43 minutes, the 2013 county champions were starting to see the finish line.
Hennelly missed a free and it seemed to spark St. Thomas into life as Healy set up Deirdre Burke on 47 minutes. Healy scored again and only the minimum separated the teams but in two phases, Ardrahan stamped their final ticket.
Hennelly put over a free before Lynskey’s run allowed Kerins hit the roof of the net. St. Thomas desperately chased the saving goal. Healy’s 63rd minute grazed over the bar before a 45 left it a one-goal contest. But time eventually caught up.
On a day where work rate was required, Ardrahan weren’t found wanting. Marguerite Howley, Megan Carr, Olivia Keehan and Shauna Healy, Lynskey and Hennelly stood out. St. Thomas will rue missed chances as they never led over the hour. Coen, Heather Cooney, Burke and Healy did best.
A fisherman working out of Ros a Mhíl in Galway has lost a High Court battle over the closure of large parts of the west coast for fishing Dublin Bay prawns.
Pat Fitzpatrick and another fisherman, Michael J Flannery based out Dingle, Co. Kerry, mounted a legal challenge against how catches are calculated for conservation purposes.
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority looks at catch sizes to decide whether EU quotas have been met or exceeded.
Based on their assessment, Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine Michael Creed issued an order in November 2017 closing a stretch of the west coast to the fishing of Dublin Bay Prawns.
Following on from this closure, Mr Fitzpatrick and Mr Flannery decided to sue the SFPA and Minister Creed.
According to the Irish Examiner the two fishermen told the High Court the Minister’s decision was hurting their livelihoods and put them at risk of going out of business.
Between them, the two fishermen employ 12-14 people working on their boats, with more dependent jobs on the shore.
The central dispute in the lawsuit was the methodology used by the SFPA to calculate catches, which doesn’t go by the electronic logs submitted by fishermen.
The agency claimed that in this stretch of the sea, known as functional area 16, fishermen are under-reporting the amount of Dublin Bay Prawns caught in the electronic logs.
Instead of going by them, the SFPA assess catches by the amount of time that fishing boats spend at sea.
While collectively, the submitted logs showed that 773 tonnes of Dublin Bay Prawns were caught, but the SFPA claimed the true figure was 1,991 tonnes using their methodology.
Dr Colm Lorgan of the Marine Institute, who regularly advises on the sustainable use of marine resources, gave evidence that the SFPA’s assessment method is scientifically sound.
He mentioned that it’s not unlike that used by the Irish Council for Exploitation of the Seas which advises the EU Commission on stock quotas.
Mr Fitzpatrick and Mr Flannery argued to the court that the ‘time spent at sea’ assessment puts them on an uneven playing field with fishermen in other countries.
Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh said their position suggested that foreign fishermen were under reporting their catches, something that she said was better dealt with by lobbying the EU Commission rather than saying the SFPA should look away.
In dismissing their suit, judge Ní Raifeartaigh said the legal obligation on the SFPA was to report the figures they believed to be accurate based on sound assessment.
She also said that electronic logbooks used by fishermen are not a scientifically grounded method, and while ‘time spent at sea’ was not as accurate as having an inspector on every boat, it was a reasonable alternative.
New bus services from Local Link will provide public transport for many rural areas of east Galway that campaigners fought to save.
Bus Eireann changed the nature of its bus Route 20/20x service from Galway to Dublin earlier this year.
This involved dropping many rural stops in Galway to the chagrin of locals, many of whom relied on this bus service to travel.
The new Local Link bus route serves many of those areas including Kilconnell, Cappataggle, Kilreekil, bringing passengers to Loughrea and Ballinasloe.
Local Link is also has a bus route from Loughrea to Gort, the first service linking those towns.
Galway East TD Sean Canney said people need to be aware of the new services and make use of them if they want them to stay.
“These new Local Link services are demand responsive so it is important that people are aware of the services and use them.”
“Local Link is providing vital transport links all across County Galway, at a reasonable rate to service users and it is important that people make themselves aware of the full range of services available and make full use of the service,” he said.
The new Local Link bus route will run multiple times a day from Monday to Friday.
Bus Eireann said at the time that its decision to cut rural stops was made for economic reasons, as the expressway services are not state funded.
In July a protest was held in Kilrickle, where people gathered and blocked buses coming through the village in an effort to save their local stop.
Autumn 2018 saw the return of the Underdogs to the screens of TG4 following a 10 year break.
In 2003, TG4 screened the first ever series of the Underdogs, a series which follows footballers who have never played football at senior inter-county championship level.
2004 was a memorable series as it paved the way for Kieran Donaghy and Pearse O’ Neill to launch their senior inter-county footballing career with their respective counties, Donaghy with Kerry and O’Neill with Cork. Both players have since won Senior All-Ireland Medals with their counties.
This year a sense of excitement could be felt in the air when it was announced that the Underdogs would be back on the screens of TG4 in the autumn; with Paul Galvin, Ray Silke and Valerie Mulcahy as coaches.
Trials for the new Underdogs series were held at Trim, Co. Meath in May and a young man from An Spidéal did his utmost to gain a place on the panel.
The 25 year old, who plays his football with St James’ GAA earned himself a place on the panel and he spoke with Galway Daily about his football and the journey he had with the Underdogs. He also spoke about the football game they played against Dublin on the 19th of October 2018.
Fintan Ó Cuanaigh had an interest in both football and hurling since he could walk and he began playing with his local club in An Spidéal when he was four years old.
Ó Cuanaigh preferred the hurling more so than the football when he was younger and he bought his hurl to secondary school every day but as he was growing up he knew he had to choose one sport over the other.
“Going into secondary school I always bought the hurl with me, people thought I was daft but I suppose when you’re getting older you kind of have to pick one,” said Ó Cunaigh.
“So if you’re going to get far in any sport or to have any opportunities, you would have more of a chance with football, so I focused on the football then after Leaving Certificate.”
He played hurling then for another short period during his college years in UL, where he won an All-Ireland Freshers Medal and then after second year he played with intermediate before ending his time playing hurling to concentrate solely on football.
Ó Cuanaigh spoke with Galway Daily about his reasons for wanting to take part in the Underdogs series,
“I suppose I wanted to get involved because if I’ve any bit of spare time or anything I put it into sport, put it into football, I’m a bit of a freak I suppose,” he laughed.
“Any spare time I’d have I’d be in the gym or out in the pitch by myself or anything like that and I suppose I got a taste of playing county at U21 level under Alan Flynn in 2014 but unfortunately we got beat by Leitrim in the first round.
“We’ d a lot of the team playing that day that won the U21’s All-Ireland the year before, now I wasn’t involved in that team so it was a bit of a freak defeat. I loved the training under Alan Flynn though and the intensity of it. I just loved that kind of environment and testing yourself all of the time and I knew I wanted more. Then I was on the Galway Junior team and then that Summer as well I got brought into the Galway Senior team for a few trials and training sessions but unfortunately never made the breakthrough,” said Ó Cuanaigh.
When the Underdogs came up Ó Cuanaigh grabbed the opportunity and although it was difficult at the beginning going to the trials and all the travelling that had to be done, he really enjoyed it. Especially as the Underdogs team was being coached by three well-known former footballers (Valerie Mulcahy who has 10 All-Ireland medals with Cork, Ray Silke who was captain of the winning 1998 Galway side, and Paul Galvin a former player with Kerry.)
As he spoke about Valerie Mulcahy, Ray Silke and Paul Galvin, Ó Cuanaigh said Galvin had a real impact on him even though he never really thought much of him before the Underdogs series.
“He’s unbelievable just the way he thinks about the game, in ways that no one else has thought about the game I don’t think. He demands high standards and people might have a certain perception about him but he’s very kind and he wants the best out of you. I’ve actually bought his book now and I’m reading it at the minute.”
Part of the Underdogs series entailed training camps throughout the country which meant a lot of travelling for all the players involved as they were playing football matches with their own local clubs as well. The camps weren’t easy with many activities organised on top of football training and each week the Underdogs would play a football game against clubs like Naomh Bríd, The Army, Moorefield the Leinster Champions, Kilcummin and a few more clubs.
Ó Cuanaigh spoke about the injury he got in his shoulder when he was playing against The Army, one of the most physcial games he has ever played. He remembered a lad had come down hard on his shoulder but he continued to play. It was the following morning when he woke and couldn’t move his hand that he knew something was wrong.
“When I couldn’t move my hand I knew something was wrong so I went to the physio and she said to go for an X-Ray but nothing showed up. Then I went for an MRI and it was a torn tendon and bruising in the shoulder so I got a local cortisone injection from my doctor but that didn’t do anything and then I had to get an ultrasound guided one up in Santry and then that done the trick after a week.”
When Ó Cuanaigh first got injured he thought he would only be out for a week or two but in the end it turned out he was out injured for two months and he felt there was a strong chance he would be up for elimination.
In every camp three players are chosen by the coaches and at the end of each camp one of the three gets eliminated so Ó Cuanaigh felt after six weeks of being injured that he could be in trouble and even though he couldn’t train he drove to Kerry for the camp that was on down there.
“There was a camp down in Kerry and I felt that I could be up for the chop if I didn’t go so I went down just trying to help with the drills and stuff and then we’d a championship match with the club up in Kenny Park in Athenry against Cortoon and I couldn’t play in it obviously.
“I came up for that and drove down the next morning to Kerry to watch the Underdogs play again even though the selectors told me not to but I suppose maybe it was a fear of missing out or something and the banter with the lads. Then obviously I drove back up on Sunday after the Underdogs match, so ya maybe I’m a bit mad in the head,” Ó Cuanaigh laughed, “but the dedication is there anyways.”
Ó Cuanaigh was only back a few days before the big match against Dublin. Four lads who had gotten game time in the All-Ireland Final were part of the Dublin team that the Underdogs played, Michael Fitzsimons, Eoin Murchan, Johnny Cooper and Conor McHugh and it was Ó Cuanaigh who marked Johnny Cooper in the game.
Ó Cuanaigh of the Underdogs team in action against Dublin on the 19th October 2018.
The Dublin team had only two training sessions prior to the game and one of the players informed Ó Cuanaigh on how they keep up to date and how they make sure they are all in tune with one another.
“They have a database where they all buy into and even if you’re not on the first team or the second team you’re still involved and you know what’s going on so lads at home might know the game plan better than the lads playing so that opened my eyes to a lot of things.”
The performance of Ó Cuanaigh on the night against Dublin has been spoken about a lot as he was one of the players on the Underdogs team that seemed to see plenty of ball time although he said he wasn’t fully happy with his own performance on the night.
“A lot of people were saying I was on the ball a lot but I wasn’t even fully happy with my own performance especially the mistakes. Dropped a free short, missed a goal chance, there the things I’ll always look back on, being kind of hard on yourself. I was content enough with the performance but the result was bad.”
Ó Cuanaigh mentioned the atmosphere in Parnell Park on the night of the match where a crowd of up to 5,000 attended the game. He said the noise when they got behind the teams was class and it was the largest crowd he had ever played in front of. Playing in Croke in an All-Ireland would have 20 times the crowd which puts immense pressure on the players.
Ó Cuanaigh really enjoyed his journey with the Underdogs and although they didn’t get the result they wanted against Dublin it’s clear the young star is dedicated to football.
The future seems bright for the young footballer, a player to look out for as he tries to pave his way forward with his footballing ability and 100% dedication.
A planning application has been submitted for €50 million office blocks in Galway city, the first phase of a major campus masterplan.
McDonogh Capital Investments has submitted plans for the office buildings as the first stage of the its major East Gate campus in Ballybrit Industrial Estate.
When it’s completed the Eastgate campus will include offices, plazas, open spaces for the public, and a hotel.
According to the Irish Times the first phase of the Eastgate campus will take 17,433m² spread among three separate blocks designed by BKD Architects.
McDonogh Capital Investments is a subsidiary of McDonogh & Sons, who originally traded in animal feed and fertiliser, but have since moved into the property market.
The company is seeking a ten year planning permission for their development at the east Galway City site.
Eastgate will be delivered in three phases, first the office buildings, then the public spaces, followed by the hotel.
The development is taking place adjacent to the existing McDonogh Trade Centre at the Industrial Estate.
While the first stages of the project will not impact it, the Trade Centre will eventually have to be moved as the project progresses.
The galway based compant has been operating in the county since the 1880s and has built many iconic buildings in the city including the Dockside buildings and the Jury’s Inn hotel.
These new office buildings have been designed specifically to achieve Leed Gold certification, the highest international standard for building sustainability.
Over 700 patients were left waiting for care on trolleys at University Hospital Galway this month in the worst-ever October on record.
New figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show that Galway was the second-most overcrowded hospital in the State this month as 716 patients were stuck waiting for a bed.
Across Ireland 9,055 people were left on trolleys this month, the worst-ever October since the INMO started keeping records in 2006.
The worst-hit hospital in the country was University Hospital Limerick with over 1,045 patients on trolleys.
This month’s figure represents a five percent increase on-year and a 442 percent increase since records began in 2006.
According to the INMO, the problem with overcrowding in Irish hospitals is caused by understaffing – mostly due to low pay levels for nurses and midwives.
The organisation had requested an across-the-board pay increase for nurses and midwives – but the proposed pay packages would have only benefited around half of the union’s members.
A recent HSE census showed that in September 2018 Ireland’s health service had 227 fewer staff nurses than in December 2017.
And the problems are expected to worsen as winter approaches.
The INMO may decide to vote on a strike at the executive’s next meeting on November 5.
Patronage of a new secondary school to serve the east side of Galway city and Oranmore is being granted to Educate Together.
Numerous parties submitted applications to be the patron including the GRETB, Scoil Sineád Limited, The Bishop of Tuam, Killala, and Achory, and Educate Together.
Galway East TD Hildegarde Naughton, who sits on the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills has confirmed that the decision has been made to grant patronage to Educate Together.
Parents within the catchment area were able to submit their own preference in an online poll conducted by the Department of Education before the New Schools Establishment Group presented a recommendation to Minister Bruton.
“I am delighted with the outcome of this process, as I had advocated for Educate Together to made patrons of the new school from the very beginning,” said the Fine Gael TD.
Galway West TD Seán Kyne has also expressed his own personal preference for Educate Together to receive patronage.
The campaign supporting Educate Together’s bid expressed their thanks to everyone who helped the or gave their support.
We are delighted to confirm that @EducateTogether has been named patron of the new secondary school due to open in Galway in September 2019. Sincere thanks to everyone who supported our campaign. It is a measure of our support that a tweet is not long enough to list you all! pic.twitter.com/bEOJQcF7Jo
This 1,000 pupil school will be the first post-primary school in Galway operated by Educate Together, with the organisation already responsible for five primary schools in the county.
Marguerite Hughes, a member of the Galway Educate Together Start-Up Group said, “Today’s announcement represents the culmination of years of campaigning by families in Galway.”
She said the five thriving primary schools show the popularity of Educate Together as a source of education for young people in Galway.
“It is wonderful that the students who attend these and other primary schools can now access second level education in a school with their preferred ethos,” she concluded.
Alongside the secondary school in Galway, Educate Together has been granted patronage of schools in Wicklow, Drogheda, and North Dublin in an announcement by the Department of Education today.
Together the four new schools will serve 3,200 pupils.
Deputy Naughton admitted it’s been a struggle to get this school through to this point, “This began with a considerable struggle to satisfy the Department that there was a demographic need for such a school in the area,”she said.
“Securing the patronage for Educate Together was the next stage. I am pleased that we’ve been successful in both regards, and efforts will now continue to ensure that an excellent facility is delivered in a suitable location within a suitable timeframe.”
A location for the construction of the school has not yet been chosen, though it will be somewhere within Oranmore of East Galway city.
Once that’s been done plans will have to be submitted and a contractor chosen before work can begin.
Despite this the school is scheduled to open in time for the next school year in September 2019.
Bhí na Underdogs ar ais ar scáileáin TG4 an Fhómhair seo théis briseadh deich bhliana a bheith acu.
Sa bhliain 2003 thosaigh an Sraith Underdogs ar TG4 don chéad uair; áit a raibh imreoirí nár imir caid ag leibhéil sinsireach idirchontae riamh á leanúint.
I 2004 d’imir na Underdogs i gcoinne na peileadóirí is fearr sa tír ag an am; Ciarraí. Fuaireadar an lámh in uachtar ar Ciarraí an oíche sin i bPáirc Abhaistín de Staic i dTrá Lí agus an bheart déanta acu théis báide a fháil in am breise. (Underdogs 3-11 Ciarraí 2-11.)
Théis an cluiche sin tháinig beirt dos na h-imreoirí Underdogs chun chinn agus d’imigh siad ar aghaidh ag imirt leis an bhfoireann idirchonate. D’imigh Kieran Donaghy ar aghaidh chun imirt le foireann idirchontae Ciarraí agus dhein Pearse O’ Neill an rud chéanna le Corcaigh, agus neart boinn uile Éireann buaite ag an bheirt acu ó shin.
I mbliana bhí sceitimíní san aer nuair a d’fhógraíodh go mbeadh Sraith na Underdogs ar ais ar scáileáin TG4 i rith an Fhómhair faoi stiúir Paul Galvin, Ray Silke agus Valerie Mulcahy.
Mí na Bealtaine 2018 a raibh na trialacha ar siúl i mBéal Átha na Troim, Có an Mhí agus dhein fear óg ó An Spidéal a dhícheall chun áit a fháil ar phainéal na Underdogs.
B’é Fintan Ó Cuanaigh a n-imríonn a chuid caide don gclub St James’ a bhain áit amach ar an phainéal agus labhair sé le Galway Daily mar gheall ar a chuid caide féin agus an tréimhse ama ar chaith sé leis na Underdogs maraon leis an chluiche a bhí acu i gcoinne Baile Átha Cliath ar an 19ú Deireadh Fómhair 2018.
Ó Cuanaigh in aicsean i gcoinne Baile Átha Cliath ar an 19ú Deireadh Fómhair 2018.
Bhí suim ag Fintan Ó Cuanaigh ins an chaid agus iománaíocht ó bhí sé in ann siúl agus thosaigh sé ag imirt lena gclub áitiúl ins An Spidéal nuair a raibh sé cheithre bhliain d’aois.
Dúirt Ó Cuanaigh (25) go raibh níos mó dúil aige ins an iománaíocht nuair a raibh sé níos óige agus gur thug sé an chamán leis go dtí an mheánscoil chuile lá ach de réir mar a raibh sé ag fás aníos bhí a fhios aige go raibh cinneadh le déanamh aige idir an dá spórt.
“Caithfidh tú cineál ceann amháin a phiocadh agus má tá tú chun dul i bhfad le spórt nó deiseanna áirithe a bheith agat bheadh níos mó seans leat leis an chaid agus b’shin é an fáth gur dhírigh mé isteach ar an chaid théis an Ardteistiméireacht,” a dúirt Ó Cuanaigh.
D’imir sé iománaíocht ar feadh seal beag eile agus é thíos in Ollscoil Luimnigh agus bhuaigh sé bonn uile Éireann san iománaíocht nuair a raibh sé ina chéad bhliain sa choláiste ach chuir sé stop leis an imirt théis an dara bhliain agus é ag chur a chuid fuinneamh iomlán isteach sa chaid ansin.
Deir Ó Cuanaigh gur theastaigh uaidh pháirt a ghlacadh leis na Underdogs mar go gcuireann sé an am saor ar fad a bhíonn aige isteach sa spórt agus sa chaid.
“Má bhíonn am saor ar bith agam, bím istigh sa gym nó amuigh ar an pháirc caide liom féin agus mar sin de. Is dócha go bhfuaireas blaiseadh beag don sort cinéal bheith ag imirt ag leibhéil an chontae nuair a bhíos ag imirt faoi 21 fé stiúir Alan Flynn i 2014,” a dúirt Ó Cuanaigh.
“Thaitin sé go mór liom agus dúireas liom féin go raibh tuilleadh uaim agus ansin bhíos ar an bhfoireann sóisir ar feadh tamaillín agus an Samhradh chéanna tugadh isteach sa bhfoireann sinsir na Gaillimhe mé le haghaidh cúpla trialacha, agus seisiún traenála ach níor tháinig faic aisti.”
Deir Ó Cuanaigh nuair a tháinig na Underdogs suas ansin rug sé ar an dheis lena dhá lámh agus deir sé cé go raibh sé deachair ar dtús ag dul go dtí na trialacha agus an méid taisteal a bhí le dhéanamh bhain sé mórchuid do shásamh amach as. Go háirithe mar go raibh na Underdogs faoi stiúir triúir iar-pheileadóirí, (Valerie Mulcahy a bhfuil 10 boinn uile Éireann buaite aici le Corcaigh, Ray Silke a raibh mar Captaen i 1998 nuair a bhuaigh an Gaillimh agus Paul Galvin iar-imreoir le Ciarraí.)
Ag caint faoi Valerie Mulcahy, Ray Silke agus Paul Galvin dúirt Ó Cuanaigh gurb é Galvin an duine is mó a chuaigh i bhfeidhm air, go háirithe mar níor thug sé mórán machnamh air roimhe seo. É sin ráite deir Ó Cuanaigh gur fhoghlaim sé ana chuid uaidh ó thaobh an slí go mbíonn Galvin ag smaoineamh ar an gcluiche agus an díograis atá aige don chaid. Bíonn sé ag lorg caighdéan an ard i gcónaí agus chuaigh sé i bhfeidhm chomh mór sin ar Ó Cuanaigh gur cheannaigh sé labhair Galvin agus tá sé á léamh faoi láthair.
Bhí ana chuid campaí traenála acu ar fud fad na tíre maraon le ana chuid taisteal dos na h-imreoirí ar fad mar bhíodar ag iarraidh an chaid a imirt lena gclubanna áitiúla féin freisin. Ní mór ná éasca a bhí na campaí ach oiread mar go raibh gníomhaíochtaí le dhéanamh i ngach campa anuas ar an traenáil caide agus ansin bhí cluiche chuile seachtain acu i gcoinne clubanna ar nós, Naomh Bríd, An Airm, Páirc an Mhóinteáin, Cill Chuimín agus cúpla club eile.
Labhair Ó Cuanaigh faoin ghortú a fuair sé ina ghualainn nuair a raibh sé ag imirt i gcoinne an Airm, ceann dos na cluichí is fisiciúla a d’imir sé riamh. Deir sé gur cuimhin leis gur tháinig leaid síos go trom ar a ghualainn ach lean Ó Cuanaigh ar aghaidh leis ag imirt. B’é an mhaidin ina dhiadh ansin nuair a dhúisigh sé agus ní raibh sé in ann a lámh a bhogadh, bhí a fhios aige go raibh rud éigin mícheart. Gortú dhá mhí a bhí ann ag an deireadh agus deir Ó Cuanaigh gur bhraith sé de bharr nach raibh sé in ann imirt nó faic go mbeadh seans ann gurb é féin a bheadh suas don díbirt.
I chuile campa phiocadar triúir leaids agus bheadh duine den triúir ag dul abhaile ansin ag deireadh na gcampa sin agus bhraith Ó Cuanaigh théis sé seachtaine a bheith gortaithe go mbeadh sé i mbaol é féin agus thiomáin sé go Ciarraí nuair a raibh campa thíos ann. Ansin thiomáin sé thar nais go Baile Átha an Rí mar go raibh cluiche Craobhchomórtais ag a gclub féin agus ansin thiomáin sé síos go Ciarraí an maidin ina dhiadh arís chun faire ar na Underdogs ag imirt. Ní raibh sé féin ag imirt in aon cluiche de dheasca an ghortú a bhí aige ach thaispeáin sé an díograis a bhí aige, cé go ndeirtear go raibh sé beagáinín craiceáilte.
Ní raibh Ó Cuanaigh thar nais i gceart ach cúpla lá roimh an cluiche mór a bhí acu i gcoinne Baile Átha Cliath agus b’é Johnny Cooper a bhí á mharcáil aige. B’é Ó Cuanaigh duine dos na h-imreoirí Underdogs ba mhó a bhí le feiscint ar an liathróid an oíche sin agus cé ná raibh toradh iontach mhaith acu dheineadar an iarracht go deo.
Deir Ó Cuanaigh ná raibh sé lán-sásta lena thaispeántas féin an oíche sin,
“Dúradh liom go rabhas le feiscint ar an liathróid go minic ach ní raibh mé lán-sásta le mo thaispeántas féin de dheasca ana chuid botúin, thit cic saor a thógas gar, chailleas an seans báide a thógaint. B’shin iad na rudaí a bheidh mé ag féachaint siar ar go deo.”
É sin ráite labhair Ó Cuanaigh faoin atmaisféar a bhí i Pháirc Parnell an oíche sin agus slua de thart ar 5,000 duine ag an gcluiche. Deir sé go raibh an torn agus an glór a bhí ann iontach ar fad agus b’shin é an slua ba mhó a d’imir Ó Cuanaigh os comhair riamh ina shaol. Deir sé go ndúirt duine dos na leaids leis go mbíonn 20 uair an méid sin daoine i bPáirc an Crócaigh nuair a bhíonn Cluiche Ceannais Craobh na hÉireann ar siúl agus brú ollmhór a bhíonn ar na h-imreoirí.
Bhain Ó Cuanaigh an-shásamh as an aistear a bhí aige leis na Underdogs agus cé nár fuaireadar an toradh a bhí uathu i gcoinne Baile Átha Cliath is léir gur réalt óg é atá díograiseach don chaid.
Peileadóir óg é Ó Cuanaigh ba chóir faire amach dó sa todhchaí mar is léir go bhfuil sé ag iarraidh dul chun chinn a dhéanamh. Tá sé díograiseach agus tá cumas na caide aige freisin.
