Tá Macalla Teo ag lorg páistí le Gaeilge labhartha maith agus caitheamh aimsire siumiúla acu.
Comhlacht léirithe neamhspléach é Macalla Teo agus faoi láthair táid ag lorg páistí le Gaeilge agus caitheamh aimsire do chlár atáid ag obair air.
Tá Macalla Teo ag obair ar chlár nua do pháistí do TG4 faoi láthair agus tá siad ag lorg páistí óga idir 7 agus 14 le Gaeilge agus caitheamh aimsire spéisiúl acu.
Ba chuma cén sort caitheamh aimsire a bheas i gceist, mar shampla,, cadhcáil, galf, iascaireacht, seoltóireacht, feirmeoireacht, ceol, leadóg, leadóg boird, badmantan, pionsóireacht, rothaíocht, damhsa, ealaíon, códú ríomhaire, agus a thuilleadh eile.
Má tá spéis ag do pháiste páirt a glacadh is féidir ríomhphoist a sheoladh chuig Paddy ag moshaoltg4@gmail.com
A luxurious, coastal home resting on the shores of Rusheeen Bay is the most expensive property on sale in Galway right now with its €3.5 million price tag.
Lough Rusheen House out in Barna is a perfect hideaway from the bustle of local estates, overlooking the waters that were used for Rusheen Bay Windsurfing School for so many years.
This five-bedroom, family home has plenty of open space, with open, light-filled rooms that stretch over 4,919 sq. ft of floor space.
In the main house solid-wood, golden, parquet paneling covers the floors.
The vast conjoined kitchen and dining room is filled with light from the large windows and patio doors, so you just can’t escape from that view.
A separate living room and dining area is demarcated by fold out doors that can be pulled back to create a warm space for all the family.
While a more formal drawing room with a large, marble fireplace offers a quieter escape.
Originally the house was built on the site of the old Rusheen riding stables, until later owners purchased it and expanded it into a modern estate.
A separate guest house connects to the main house at the ground floor level through a glass walkway.
Guests will be spoiled with a spacious kitchen and dining room, and beautifully appointed upstairs living room, bedroom, and sauna complete with their own coastal views.
Wait a second, did I read that right? A guest sauna? Well I’ll be a poverty-stricken-millennial.
Leave your friends and family eternally resentful that their own home can’t compare to your guest house.
This home provides a sanctuary in the country just minutes away from Galway city with 23.5 acres of private garden and grounds.
The grounds are laid out in a mixture of sheltered gardens, mature planting, a huge open back garden, and a large paddock.
A fully-lit driveway leads right down to the water’s edge, where summer evenings can be spent looking out over the sea.
Or you could make use of the special barbeque area with friends or take a stroll through the walkways that weave through the grounds.
The waterfront gardens are greened out by 12,000 plants on the grounds, and almost 2,000 trees, that were installed by a landscaper.
The sale of this small estate with it facial-tic inducing price tag is being handled by agents Sherry Fitzgerald.
This month has broken the record for hospital overcrowding in August, according to new figures released today by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
A staggering 7,911 admitted patients were forced to wait on chairs or trolleys across the state in August 2018.
This represents an increase of two percent on last year’s figures for the same month.
Of these patients, 619 were at University Hospital Galway – the second-worst in the country.
University Hospital Limerick took the top spot for most overcrowded hospital this month with a jaw-dropping 969 patients stuck waiting for care.
Closely following Galway was Cork University Hospital with 604 patients.
INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha commented: “Even though it was a mild month, patients and staff faced record overcrowding. Nearly 8,000 sick and injured people were forced to wait without a bed.
“The message from the frontline is clear: this all comes down to pay. The HSE simply cannot find enough nurses and midwives to work on these wages.
“It’s no coincidence that Limerick has had such a bad month, as they have over 70 unfilled nursing vacancies.
“Unless nurses and midwives get pay equality with similarly-qualified health professionals, vacancies will remain open and things will only get worse.”
The INMO plans to meet with the HSE and the Department of Health at the Workplace Relations Commission next week to discuss understaffing and overcrowding.
They intend to ask the HSE to present plans for dealing with the upcoming winter – when hospitals typically see an influx of patients – including which hospital services they will likely cut to meet extra demand.
Galway University Hospitals will be holding their annual Ecumenical Memorial Service at UHG in September to give grieving families a shared space to mourn.
Anne McKeown, Bereavement Liaison Officer at UHG said, “The aim of the service is to provide a spiritual space to support families in the grief they are experiencing in a supportive and empathetic environment.
“It is also an opportunity to meet other families and staff members who have shared the same journey.”
This is the ninth annual memorial service for families of those who’ve lost a loved one organised by GUH’s End of Life Care Committee.
This year’s memorial service will be held in the staff canteen of the Nurses Home at University Hospital Galway on Thursday, September 13 at 7pm.
It will be led by hospital staff with representatives from the Church of Ireland, Islamic, Catholic, and Methodist faiths.
Dr. Helen Greally, Director of Psychology and Support Services at Cancer Care West, will also be a guest at the memorial and will speak about ‘hope following loss’.
The eight services before this year have been well received by the families of those who’ve passed Ms McKeown said.
“The response from those who have attended previous services has been very positive. Families have spoken of the comfort they feel knowing that staff who cared for their deceased relatives have not forgotten them.”
For more information on the memorial service or to confirm attendance please contact one of the following members of the Committee:
Angela O’ Grady, Social Work Department 091 544089
Anne McKeown, Bereavement Liaison Officer 091 524222 or direct line 091 544823
Ger Kilkelly/James Geoghegan PAL’s 091 543210
Photo: Galway University Hospitals’ End of Life Care Committee
They are desperately searching for a place to stay before college courses start next week. Here are their stories.
International student Yahia Talal has been looking for a place for his younger sister since July.
“Last year I spent my first month moving around hostels in the city and I wouldn’t like that to happen to my younger sister or to anyone every single year,” he says.
Most of the rooms he’s seen advertised are five days only.
Yahia is also looking for a place for himself, but he says finding something for his sister is more important.
Her course starts on Monday and his starts on September 10.
“My sister is my priority at the moment…I’m more concerned about finding something for her, since she doesn’t know anyone in Galway,” he says.
Michelle Montague from Monaghan is also due to start her course on Monday.
She says “I haven’t had my phone out of my hand for 4 weeks since I got my offer and still can’t find anything!”
The 27-year-old can’t afford to drive down to look at places.
“It’s my first time moving out of home,” she says, “but I feel it’s just extra stress on people who are nervous enough about moving from a small town to a big city and don’t know anybody.”
Although there are options available online, managing to secure one in such a tough environment is near-impossible.
“A lot of people are still posting about rooms but they either don’t reply to you, the rooms are very expensive or it is a scam.
“You need to be one your phone constantly to try and get in there first and even at that you might not be lucky.
“Prices are ridiculous – my grant is only giving me 330 a month, but I would take one at this stage for 440 or 500 if I had to.”
And with such high costs many people are taking advantage.
Scam ads for fake apartments aim to gather identification info from desperate house hunters.
And many places are overpriced and sub-standard.
Says Michelle: “I was offered a room for 125 a week sharing a room with 2 others in a house with a total of 6 people.
“I said no as I need quiet to try and get work done.”
A recent Facebook thread on Galway’s housing situation
21-year-old Klaudia Broda from Mullingar has been working full-time for a year to save up for college.
But she might not be able to go this year after all.
“I don’t come from a very rich family, but my parents’ income is just above the requirements so I also don’t qualify for a grant,” she explains.
“Everything from fees to accommodation to food has to be funded by what I earn.
“I had to take a year out to save up but even that doesn’t seem to be enough with the cost of a room being an average of €400.”
Klaudia loves Galway but says that searching for accommodation has been extremely stressful.
After making around 30 enquiries so far, she has yet to even see a place.
“Often they don’t even get back to you or it can take them weeks to get back to me only to say they’re already booked,” she says.
“One lady got back to me saying that I’m too young, another man said that none of the times that I’m available work for him.
“Out of all the enquiries I got one answer where the lady said that she has other offers but she will get back to me if they back out.”
Klaudia’s course starts on September 6.
And if she doesn’t find a place by then, she will have to travel from Mullingar daily.
“If I don’t move to Galway, my commute will consist of two buses each at least 50 minutes long.”
But Michelle is determined to study in Galway no matter what.
“A girl I was talking to had to defer her offer until next year as she couldn’t afford accommodation or fees,” she says.
“This is my only chance to go to college…so I’m not going to give up and cancel my place.”
Ireland’s largest book retailer Eason will soon see its bustling Shop street store under new ownership as it makes plans to sell off multiple properties.
Eason is selling off 13 properties it owns around the Republic, a mixture of retail outlets and investment properties, in a move that’s expected to generate €60 million in revenue for shareholders.
One store that’s being sold off, the company’s flagship outlet on O’Connell street, will be leased back from the new owner and continue to run as a bookstore uninterrupted.
It’s not known of there are similar plans for other outlets up for sale such as the one on Shop street.
The Irish Times reports that plans for the sale were drawn up by Eason’s Chairman David Dilger to release liquid funds to the company’s shareholders, and extract the best value from its assets.
Eason is owned by 220 shareholders, with the company largely family-owned for many generations. With the €60 million distributed amongst them, it’ll come to €3 per share.
According to the plans that exist the properties will be sold off over the next two to three years.
An additional €17 million in cash and €2.4 million in property assets in Norther Ireland will be used to rejuvenate the retail business.
The retail side of Eason will then be transferred to a new entity, New Retail Holding Public Limited Company, with the shareholders retaining ownership.
Other stores being sold off can be found in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, the Square in Tallaght, Patrick Street in Cork, and shops in Clonmel, Limerick, and Tralee.
The portfolio also include investment properties in Athlone, Carlow, Clonshaugh, Dún Laoghaire, and St Margaret’s in Co Dublin.
Other than on Shop street, Eason has Galway branches in Galway Shopping Centre and Tuam.
Eason has 62 stores throughout Ireland, including seven in Norther Ireland, with 34 being operated directly by the company and 28 franchises.
An extraordinary general meeting of shareholders is planned for September to gain approval for the sales, with 75% backing needed to go ahead.
If they do give approval, Eason will then have to seek further approval from the High Court to move ahead with its plans.
Marine experts are at a loss to explain a rash of lion’s mane jellyfish sightings off the west coast, with 61 in Galway alone.
The extremely large and often dangerous jellyfish is no stranger to Irish waters, but is usually seen off the east coast, particularly around Dublin.
According to the National Biodiversity Data Centre, there have been more sighting’s of lion’s mane jellyfish in the west this summer than cuckoos.
There have been 157 recorded sightings along the west coast in Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, and Kerry, compared with just 122 cuckoo sightings.
Before this year it was almost unheard of for the lion’s mane jellyfish to be seen in Atlantic waters, and marine experts are at a loss to explain what has caused the shift.
Damien Haberlin of the Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy at UCC said of the change, “It is highly unusual in our experience. A lot of lion’s mane on the west coast is a very unusual thing.”
“In fact, up to about two years ago, we would have told people that you don’t get lion’s mane on the west coast.”
“This year has blown that out of the water. We just don’t know what’s going to happen. Maybe next year it will go back to a more normal distribution,” he said.
Some have said that the change in habitat might be attributable to climate change, but that hasn’t been proven.
“Climate change and the warming sea will have an effect. But trying to predict with any level of certainty what that effect will be is difficult,” said Mr Haberlin.
The difficultly in finding a concrete cause is that little is known about the movements and habits of the jellyfish in Ireland.
People swimming in Galway waters have been advised by Jellyfish experts an NUI Galway to be wary as a sting from a lion’s mane jellyfish, though not generally considered fatal, can be extremely painful.
Earlier this summer several people were hospitalised after being stung by a lion’s mane jellyfish, prompting the university to issue advice on what to do if you’re stung.
It’s advised that the best first aid option is to rinse the affected area in vinegar to remove the tentacles, then immerse in 45°C water, or apply a heat pack, for 40 minutes.
While we’re coming to the end of the season where people could expect to encounter a lion’s mane jellyfish, they can still be found until late September.
There were 259 homeless people in Galway in July according to the Department of Housing, 40% more than the same time last year when there were only 180.
The West of Ireland had 287 homeless people in total, including 29 people in Mayo and Roscommon.
Again, that’s an increase of almost a hundred people from July last year when there were 199 homeless people in the west of Ireland.
Families in particular have become more and more at risk or homelessness, with the number of families without a permanent home in the West more than doubling in the past year.
In July 2017, there were 40 homeless families spread between Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, but in the year since then that figure has jumped to 85.
It’s been acknowledged for some time that we are going through a housing and homelessness crisis here in Ireland by every part of society including the government.
But the sheer scale of the problem and the extent to which it continues to grow despite efforts to combat homelessness is mind boggling.
Each monthly homelessness report by the Department of Housing is based on a one-week study within the month.
The July data was gathered from the week of July 23 – 29.
It found that the total number of homeless people in Ireland was 9,891, including 1,778 families.
The largest part of those are in Dublin where there are 6,891 people without a permanent home.
Overall homelessness has also increased dramatically in the past 12 months; in July 2017 the Department only counted 8,160 people as homeless.
The homelessness figures gathered by the Department of Housing include people living in emergency accommodation such as hotels or shelters.
Where once homelessness was just the province of single people it has increasingly come to affect all walks of life, with many families where both parents are working seeking the help of groups like Galway Simon or COPE because they are at risk of losing their home.
Menlo National School has issued a statement to parents after a protest this morning over class sizes with a potential compromise.
Parents protested outside Scoil Bhríde Mionlach this morning against plans to merge fifth and sixth class, which they said would have led to unacceptably large classes.
Management of Menlo have now said that while they can’t provide separate teachers for each class full-time, they will be taught the core subjects separately.
From 9:30am – 1pm each day , 5th class will be taught the core subjects in the library, while 6th class will be instructed in the classroom.
Previously school management had told parents that the Learning Support Teacher would be allocated to 5th & 6th class to avoid a merger.
However in a letter sent out on Tuesday, parents were told the school received legal confirmation they could not divert Learning Support hours away from the students they’re allocated to by the Department of Education.
In today’s compromise Menlo NS also promised to have a health and safety audit carried out by insurers as soon as possible, and to act on any advice given.
One parent representative from each class was also invited to come in to the school and view the classes today.
Menlo NS has said that it has, and will continue to request that the Department of Education provide an additional teacher for 5th & 6th class.
Cuirfear tús an deireadh seachtaine seo le séasúr rugbaí PRO14 Guinness a bheas á craoladh beo ar TG4.
Beidh TG4 ag craoladh 28 cluiche beo mar aon le craoladh iarbheo a dhéanamh ar 9 gcluiche eile idir cúigí.
Beidís ag craoladh buaicphointí chluichí an deireadh seachtaine freisin chun chinntiú go mbeidh an t-aicsean is fearr ó shraith Guinness PRO14 le fáil ag lucht féachana na hÉireann as seo go dtí Cluiche ceannais an PRO14 ar Pháirc na gCeilteach i nGlaschú Dé Sathairn an 25 Bealtaine.
Cluiche stairiúil a bheidh i gcluiche ceannais na bliana seo beag beann ar na foirne a bheidh ann mar gurb í an chéad uair í a n-imreofar an cluiche ceannais i Parkheas i nGlaschú, an baile ag cumann sacair na gCeilteach.
Ag an Sportsground i nGaillimh inné ag seoladh chlúdach TG4 ar an séasúr nua, dúirt Ceannasaí Spóirt TG4, Rónán Ó Coistealbha:
“Tá TG4 an-bhródúil as an gceangal seo atá againn leis an gcomórtas, ceangal atá ann ó 2001.
“Táimid ag súil cluichí na sraithe PRO 14 Guinness a thabhairt chuig lucht féachana agus lucht leanúna rugbaí ar fud na hÉireann ar sheirbhís saor go haer sna míonna atá ag teacht le 28 cluiche díobh á gcraoladh beo chomh maith le buaicphointí agus craoladh iarbheo a bheith ann gach seachtain.
“Táimid sásta margadh a bheith déanta againn leis an PRO14 ar chearta teilifíe i leith na trí shéasúr atá ag teacht agus táimid ag súil roinnt cluichí iontach rugbaí a fheiceáil sna míonna atá ag teacht.”
Iris Productions a bheas i mbun an chraolacháin ar Shéasúr Rugbaí PRO 14 Guinness. Beidh Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill ar ais ina príomhláithreoir ar na cláracha agus ina teannta beidh painéal saineolaithe rugbaí – Rónán Loughney, Marcus Horan, Eoghan Ó Neachtain, Éamonn Molloy agus Eimear Considine ina measc.
Cuirfear tús an deireadh seachtaine seo le séasúr rugbaí PRO14 Guinness le dhá chluiche a chraolfar beo ar TG4.
Is féidir tuilleadh eolais a fháil ar an gcraoladh a dhéanfar ar shéasúr rugbaí na sraithe PRO 14 Guinness anseo.
Galway Community Circus is seeking a candidate for the new position of General Manager as it prepares for Galway European Capital of Culture 2020.
As Galway Community Circus begins its preparations for Galway’s year as European Capital of Culture 2020, it’s looking for some to help it implement a newly published Strategic Development Plan 2018 – 2020.
Galway Community Circus is Ireland’s flagship organisation for youth and social circus with a remit to help young people unlock their personal and creative potential, and to foster social inclusion through circus arts.
The GCC is developing one of Galway 2020’s headline projects Wires Crossed – a Balancing Act for Europe.
This project is about promoting physical and mental wellbeing, as well as community integration, through the art of tightrope walking.
The General Manager will work with GCC’s Executive Creative Director and team to oversee the delivery of the Strategic Development Plan 2018 – 2020.
The GM will also oversee administration, finance, compliance, staffing, all internal and some external communications.
So far the role is broad, with room for development, and may evolve over time.
Requirements
Applicants must have a minimum of 2 – 3 years experience in a management, administration or development role, ideally in the arts.
Two years experience in financial management and supervision of budgets exceeding €500k.
Experience in programme management and a proven ability to work independently and maintain relationships with a wide range of organisations.
Contract Details
Three year, full-time contract from September 1, 2018.
Salary is €34,000 – €39,000 a year, depending on experience.
Applications must be in by September 17.
Interviews to be held on September 28.
Standard Monday – Friday hours with 20 paid holiday days each year.
Six month probation period.
To apply e-email ulla@galwaycircus.com
For more information go to the Galway Community Circus website here.
A study carried out by NUI Galway has found that of all aspects of health, Irish people place the greatest weight on depression and anxiety.
Researchers from the J.E Cairnes School of Business at NUIG studied people’s relative preferences across 3,125 health states, including everything from perfect health to being dead.
The report split health across five categories: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression.
Each category was gauged on five levels of severity from no problem, all the way up to being completely unable to function.
It found that Irish people place the greatest weight on anxiety/depression, followed by pain/discomfort.
Professor Ciaran O’Neill, lead author of the study, said that it revealed a lot about how Irish people’s views on matters of health compared with other countries.
“The work provides valuable insights into those preferences and allows meaningful comparisons of preferences in Ireland with those in other countries,”
“For example, we attach a much higher weight to mental health, anxiety and depression, at severe or extreme levels in Ireland than is the case in England or Germany,” he said.
As part of the study 1,160 surveys were completed between March 2015 and September 2016.
Beyond just curiosity about what worries Irish or German people, it’s claimed that the study will be of great help in creating Quality-adjusted life year models based on Irish preferences.
These are statistical models that measure disease burden, as well as what quality of life that people are living and for how long.
“Quality adjusted life year measures are an integral part of health technology assessments,” said Professor O’Neill
“A method used to assess the relative value for money of alternative uses of healthcare resources, such as those produced by the Health Information and Quality Authority or used by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics in Ireland”
Essentially these are economic models gauging the value for money of different medical interventions.
The Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland is confident that measures they’ve introduced to combat fraudulent claims are having a big impact, with claims made in Galway the first seven months of the year down 13 percent on 2017.
Last year there were 80 claims made in Galway involving vehicles that were uninsured or untraced between January and July.
While in the same period this year only 70 similar claims have been made to the Bureau.
The MIBI attributes the drop to people becoming more wary of getting caught making a false claim.
Last year the MIBI stepped up its efforts to combat fraud by increasing the internal and external resources they put into combating fraudulent claims.
It also began working more closely with the Gardaí to investigate such cases and bring them to trial for court scrutiny.
In all, the MIBI found that 18 counties have seen a drop in the number of claims filed this year.
Chief Executive of the MIBI David Fitzgerald said of the figures, “Fraudsters are starting to get the message that if they want to make a fictional claim to the MIBI then they will have to be prepared to have that claim put through microscopic examination.
“They will be thoroughly investigated by the MIBI working in co-operation with the Gardaí and if the evidence still doesn’t add up, they will be brought before the courts.”
“The days of easy settlements for nonsense claims are definitely over,” He concluded.
The Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland is a non-profit set up to provide some avenue of compensation for victims of a car accident involving uninsured or untraceable vehicles.
Nationally the MIBI received 1,572 claims in the first seven months of this year, a drop of 144 from the same period last year.
The largest drop of any county was in Louth, where the number of claims received went down by 32, followed by Dublin (33), and Kildare (17).
However eight counties did see more claims this year, with the biggest increase being in Laois, which recorded eight additional claims.
The lion’s share of all claims made to the MIBI originate in Dublin, with 672 registered this year, accounting for more than 40% of the total.
Mr Fitzgerald is quick to reassure people that those with a legitimate claim shouldn’t be intimidated or deterred by the MIBI’s renewed toughness on fraud.
“The MIBI would like to make it clear that those who have a real claim have nothing to worry about. The MIBI has always been a pro-victims organisation and when the claim is real and justified we support the claimant.”
“However, protecting victims also means reducing fraud as much as possible,” He said.
It’s acknowledged by the MIBI that the figures released this month only account for a snapshot in time.
A better grasp of the effectiveness of its anti-fraud measures will have to wait until they’ve bee in effect a while longer.
Also, some counties only registered a very small number of claims, e.g. Leitrim (5), Roscommon (10), Londford (14), that make it difficult to draw conclusions from.
Meet the Molloys: one Galway family reveals their struggle to find a home in the peak of the housing crisis
Laura Molloy is at her wits’ end.
The 32-year-old mother of two has been searching for a new home since a phone call from the landlord in late July.
But she hasn’t been able to find anything – and if nothing turns up by the end of September, she and her family will be out on the street.
“I am desperate not to be homeless,” Laura says.
The young family have lived in their house in Camillaun Park in Westside for the past seven years.
Although they signed a year’s lease when they first moved in, Laura says, she hasn’t seen the landlord since.
She and her husband Joe continued to pay rent as their son Sean grew up and they welcomed baby Rian into the family.
Laura and Joe Molloy with their sons Sean and Rian
Sean is now nine years old and his brother is only 20 months.
Their parents both work part time in the city – Laura as a hairdresser and Joe at a construction company.
At first the landlord told them that he wanted to give the house to his son and friends for college.
He gave Laura until September 1 to move out.
But after she contacted Threshold and learned that they legally have 196 days to leave, she spoke to him again.
Following their second conversation, the landlord gave them until the end of September.
“He thought this was more than a generous amount of time,” Laura says.
“I’ve been applying and searching for houses and have been refused for the ones I applied for…I have great references and both of us are working part-time. We have both never been out of work.”
Laura and son Sean Molloy
Laura says she has been looking for places as far away as Moycullen and Headford as well as in the city.
She even contacted the city council, who told her to apply for the Housing Assistance Payment scheme.
Meanwhile families all over Ireland are falling into homelessness, with one young family sleeping in Tallaght Garda Station because they had nowhere to go.
So securing a place is looking less and less likely for the Molloys.
According to Laura, they have been on the waiting list for council housing for nine years.
She feels as if no one cares.
“I have made them aware of my situation,” Laura explains. “I’ve been onto local TDs and no one has helped me or got back to me. My stress levels are through the roof.”
Her two young boys have problems of their own.
Sean has ADHD and sensory processing disorder, and Rian is being assessed for autism.
And Laura herself is suffering from anxiety due to their situation.
“I literally don’t know how much more I can take,” she says. “Every door is getting shut in our faces.”
Maidin inné Dé Chéadaoin an 29ú Lúnasa sheol Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta-Conamara litir maidir le dúnadh An Ghaelacadaimh.
Sheol Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta-Conamara litir chuig Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta Joe McHugh faoi dhúnadh an Ghaelacadaimh agus easpa ranganna dá bharr.
Dé hAoine seo caite, an 24ú Lúnasa, d’fhógair bord stiúrtha an Ghaelacadaimh go mbeadh orthu an gcomhlacht a scor mar gheall nach mbeadh aon mhaoiniú Stáit le cur ar fáil dóibh a thuilleadh.
Is Eagraíocht seirbhísí cultúir é an Ghaelacadaimh agus bhíodar ag cur seirbhísí múinteoireachta ceoil, amhránaíochta, Gaeilge agus a thuilleadh seirbhísí eile ar fáil i nGaeltacht Chonamara agus in Árainn.
Seo mar a bhí sa litir a sheol Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta-Conamara chuig Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta Joe McHugh.
“Is cúis mhór díomá agus imní dúinn scor an chomhlachta An Gaelacadamh agus deireadh dá réir leis na ranganna sna healaíona dúchasacha Gaelacha a bhí á gcur ar fáil acu sa gceantar Gaeltachta is mó sa tír.
“Tá teagmháil déanta againn leis an Roinn agus iarrachtaí déanta teagmháil a dhéanamh le hEalaín na Gaeltachta agus ina dhiaidh sin Udarás na Gaeltachta agus níl muid in ann aon deimhniú a fháil go leanfar leis na ranganna ó Mheán Fomhair go Nollaig 2018. Tuigtear dúinn go mbeidh socruithe á ndéanamh ag Ealaín na Gaeltachta ina dhiadh sin.
“S’iad gasúir Chonamara agus Árann atá thíos leis seo. Dream iad nach bhfuil in ann cur ar a son féin i bpróiseas dá leithéid seo ach a bhfuil an Ghaeilge, An Ghaeltacht agus gach a bhfuil i straitéisí an rialtais ag brath orthu leis an teanga agus an dúchas a thabhairt slán. Tá siad fágtha ar an bhfaraor géar agus níl aon ghlacadh againne, mar thuismitheoirí leis seo.
“Níl aon spéis againn i leithscéalta a bhaineann le deacrachtaí maorlathais. Tá an chumhacht agatsa gníomh a dhéanamh agus tá muid ag achainí ort, socrú eatramhach a chur i bhfeidhm láithreach a chinnteoidh nach mbeidh aon bhriseadh sa soláthar ranganna.
“Iarrann muid ort aird a thabhairt ar an achainí seo agus freagra a thabhairt orainn a luaithe in Éirinn agus is féidir.”
Istoíche amárach an 31ú Lúnasa 2018 a chuirfear tús le Mórléiriú Bhliain na Gaeilge – Aisling?
Beidh Aisling? – mórléiriú stáitse gradamúil de shaothair nuachoimisiúnaithe ó scoth na n-ealaíontóirí Gaeltachta á léiriú ar fud na tíre an Fómhar seo mar bhuaic ar Bhliain na Gaeilge 2018 agus tús á chur le camchuairt náisiúnta sa Town Hall Theatre i nGaillimh istoíche amárach an Aoine 31ú Lúnasa 2018.
Beidh costas €15/€12.50 ar na ticéidí agus ní bheidh briseadh ar bith á thógaint. Leanfaidh an mórléiriú ar aghaidh ar feadh 80 nóiméad.
Léirithe agus stiúrtha ag an drámadóir aitheanta Darach Mac Con Iomaire, tugann Aisling? an pobal ar thuras machnamhach ealaíne chun scéal na nGael agus na Gaeltachta a chíoradh go taibhsiúil le ceol, filíocht, damhsa agus na fís-ealaíona.
Curtha i láthair ag Ealaín na Gaeltachta, is léiriú eisiach é Aisling? de shaothair nua-chumtha de chuid mór-ealaíontóirí comhaimseartha na Gaeltachta – idir cheoltóirí, filí, scríbhneoirí, dearc-ealaíontóirí agus cumadóirí, ina measc:
Máiréad Ní Mhaonaigh, Dún na nGall, Amhránaí/Fidil.
Seán Ó Flaithearta, Inis Mór, Amharc-ealaíontóir/Dearthóir
Pól Ó Ceannabháin, Conamara, Amhránaí/Cnaguirlisí
Méabh Ní Bheaglaoich, Corca Dhuibhne, Mileoidean/Amhránaí
Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, Dún na nGall, Fidil/Taibheoir
Johnny Óg Connolly, Conamara, Mileoidean/Cumadóir
Caoimhín Ó Fearghail, An Rinn, Píobaire/Fliúiteadóir/Basúcaí
Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde, Dún na nGall, Scríbhneoir/Taibheoir
Róisín Seoighe, Conamara, Amhránaí/Damhsóir
Sorcha Ní Chéide, Conamara, Aisteoir/Damhsóir
Eoin Geoghegan, Conamara, Aisteoir/Taibheoir.
Tá níos mó i gceist le Aisling? ná oíche cheoil agus ealaíne áfach – spreagann agus dúisíonn sé spiorad pobail i ngach lucht féachana a fheiceann é trí bheith mar nasc cruthaitheach chuig an ionracas ealaíonta a thug inspioráid do cheannairí físeacha 1916.
Mór-thaispeántas cultúrtha é Aisling? a fhanann glan d’aon turas ar ghnáth-leagan amach ceolchoirme stáitse.
Ina áit seo, tugann Aisling? cuireadh do phobail na hÉireann nascadh in athuair lena ndúchas, lena n-oidhreacht agus lena bhfuil in ann dúinn mar phobail, le scoth an cheoil agus na healaíne nua-chumtha ó scoth na n-ealaíontóirí Gaeltachta.
Tapaigh an deis – ceannaigh do thicéad anois mar beidh tóir orthu…
Mórléiriú Aisling? ar siúl sa Town Hall Theatre, istoíche amárach an 31ú Lúnasa agus an Satharn 1ú Meán Fomhair ag a 8i.n.
Grocery stores and other large retailers are being asked to make an extra push to cut down on Ireland’s plastic waste.
Galway West TD and Chair of the new Oireachtas Committee on Climate Change Hildegarde Naughton said that retailers with multiple branches must provide consumers with more eco-friendly options to cut down on plastic waste.
Deputy Naughton said, “Even a small grocery shop can result in an alarming amount of packaging waste.”
“We all know the copious amounts of cardboard, tin and glass generated from nonperishable products, but even more alarmingly fresh produce like fruit and vegetables come wrapped in plastic punnets and trays.”
While consumers might try to avoid pre-packaged produce, they still only have limited options to avoid creating extra plastic waste.
“Even if you choose to buy these products loose, the bags provided are often plastic. This leaves consumers with little choice and creates excessive amounts of plastic waste.”
Businesses across Galway have recently been getting into the movement to cut down on plastic and other waste by offering bio-degradable alternatives.
They responded to the primary school students’ plea with a commitment to convert to fully compostable cutlery, napkins, and greaseproof paper.
Another business that’s just making its mark on Galway for the first time, Freshii healthy fast-food restaurant, has committed to using fully compostable food containers and cutlery at its branch opening in Galway next week.
One way that Deputy Naughton suggests that retailers could easily help cut down on waste is by providing a space in store for customers to remove plastic wrapping and packaging, with appropriate recycling facilities close by.
“Retailers and consumers alike must work together towards a cleaner, greener Ireland,” she said.
“Some supermarket chains are already taking action, with promises to cut down on plastics or make them more recyclable over the next number of years.”
Waste, and its disposal, has proven to be a massive problem in Galway in recent times.
Over the summer months a campaign against illegal dumping removed 19 tonnes of garbage from blackspots in the city.
The Fine Gael government’s National Development Plan commits €21.8 billion over the next 10 years to move Ireland towards a more eco-friendly society.
One of its key objectives is to promote circular economy principles around plastic waste: prevention, reuse, recycling and recovery.
“Ireland has made progress in improving recycling and recovery levels, but further progress is needed to protect the environment, meet incoming EU regulations and facilitate the move to a circular economy in Ireland.” concluded Deputy Naughton.
The healthy choice, fast-food chain Freshii is opening the doors of its first branch in Galway next week, creating ten full-time and part-time jobs.
Freshii is a Canadian restaurant chain that sets itself a the forefront of the improbable movement bringing together fast-food and a drive towards health and wellness.
The new branch in Galway is opening on Lower Cross Street in the city centre
With a fully customisable menu of salads, wraps, soups, burritos, and bowls, as well as pressed juices, smoothies and frozen yogurts, Freshii gives customers the opportunity to bring together all their favourite health foods without taking a wheelbarrow to the farmers’ market.
Meal choices focus on over 70 ingredients that are fibre-rich, filled slow burning carbs, essential fats and lean proteins.
Dave O’Donoghue, CEO of Freshii Ireland, said they’re thrilled to be coming to Galway,
“Freshii is one of the fast-growing restaurant brands in the world, serving a healthy and customisable menu built around high-quality fresh ingredients.
“We can’t wait to energise people in Galway and satisfy the demand for healthy and fresh food at affordable prices.”
And since healthy food should go hand-in-hand with a healthy environment, Freshii are introducing fully compostable food containers, cups, and cutlery in all of their Irish restaurants.
Everything you eat from or with will degrade into the earth within eight weeks, leaving only organic matter behind.
The new forks, knives, spoons, and straws are made from eco-friendly plant starches that contain no traces metals.
And compost bins will be the new norm in stores so everything can be properly disposed of without getting mixed in with other waste.
Other branches of Freshii already operating in Ireland include at Applegreen’s M4 motorway plaza near Enfield, two each on the M1 north and southbound, and multiple branches in Dublin.
Since beginning in 2005, Freshii has grown to 396 stores in 17 countries, with 99% owned by local franchises.
Dave O’Donoghue and Cormac Manning are the Master Franchise Holders for Freshii in Ireland.
Each Freshii restaurant brings its own individual look and feel to the community, while offering the same fresh ingredients and health-focused menu nationwide.
Coláiste Gnobnáit Gaelscoil on Inis Oírr will be teaching several of its subjects through English this year due to a lack of qualified gaelgeoirs.
The secondary school on Inis Oírr will be forced to teach Art, Home Economics, and Maths, a crucial core subject, through Irish because there weren’t qualified applicants with Irish.
The teaching positions were advertised earlier this summer along with 23 other teaching positions in Galway, nine of which were also at Gaelscoils, with a closing date for applications of July 25.
However the recent news shows that they were unable to fill those vacancies.
It can be difficult for a teacher to commit to teaching a full year out on the Aran Islands, as they will likely be travelling to and from the island, which is a significant expense.
Last year there were 27 students enrolled at Coláiste Ghobnait, though it’s reported that has dropped to 23 for this coming academic year.
Coláiste Ghobnait offers 14 subjects at a Junior Cert Level, and 12 for the Leaving Cert.
There is also a transition year programme at the gaelscoil which has 12 subjects.
Students from outside the area who want to immerse themselves in the Gaeltacht for the learning experience can apply for the Island Scholarship Scheme.
The grant supplied by the Department of Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht supports a student for a full academic year at one of five island secondary schools.
The school year is upon us once again and pharmacists are urging parents to act against the spread of head lice by following a few simple steps.
It’s estimated that between one and ten children suffer from head lice at any given time, and 80% of all head lice infestations occur in kids aged four to sixteen.
The Irish Pharmacists Union says that parents and guardians should screen their school aged children for lice once a week to stop an outbreak at school.
Caitriona O’Riordan, Pharmacist and member of the Executive Committee of the Irish Pharmacy Union said, “There is no way to completely eliminate the risks of head lice but identifying an infection early will make treating it far easier.”
“This will also help prevent the spread of infection through your family, or amongst school friends. Our advice to parents is to check their children’s hair regularly, ideally once a week.”
Lice are small whitish, or grey-brown parasitic insects that range from the size of pinhead up to a sesame seed.
They feed on tiny amounts of blood sucked right through the scalp; they’re contagious and incredibly annoying.
Simple advice for parents to keep their kids safe from these disgusting scalp monsters includes:
Check children’s hair regularly for head lice, ideally once a week. Use a wet, fine-tooth comb for this and make sure to do it in good light.
Itching and scratching are often signs of nits and lice. As well as lice crawling on the hair, keep and eye out for nits, tiny eggs that look like dandruff but can’t be flicked off hair.
Get right in there: Check close to the scalp, behind the ears, around the nape of the neck and under the fringe. If your kid isn’t profoundly physically uncomfortable, you’re not being thorough enough.
Treat the hair only if it has live lice or unhatched eggs. Ask a pharmacist what treatment to use and do it as quickly as possible.
If your child has lice, inform the school, friends, and other contacts. The school can then inform parents of the outbreak so they can check their own kids. Remember, children are basically biological weapons at at the best of times.
Always follow the instructions of the pharmacist and on the treatment pack. These treatments don’t prevent an infection, so don’t use one “just in case”.
The most important thing to remember if you find yourself staring at head lice crawling around a child’s head up close is to resist the urge to gag and blast everything with fire.
This will not help and may irritate the scalp.
It’s also important that neither kids nor parents should feel embarrassed dealing with head lice, Catriona O’Riordan insisted.
“Lice are a normal part of life and are nothing to be embarrassed about. There are several treatment options available, and you should seek advice from your pharmacist about which is the most appropriate for your child.”
