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Are adults using facebook to fulfill attachment needs?

By
Briain Kelly
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Adults who have difficulty forming close relationships may use facebook in unhealthy ways to fulfill their attachment needs.

That’s according to a new study by researchers from NUI Galway’s School of Psychology who say that adults whose relationships are characterised by insecurity may use facebook to compensate for low self-esteem.

Their research looked at attachment avoidance and anxiety, avoiding intimacy and fearing rejection, and how that linked with problematic facebook usage.

It found that people with high levels of attachment anxiety were more likely to compulsively look at other people’s photos, share personal information, and use the site to the point where it impacts on their ability to connect with others.

Dr. Sally Flynn, lead author of the study, said the findings may be of use to psychological or psychiatric professionals.

“Professionals involved in providing psychological and psychotherapeutic support may need to consider that for some users, specific patterns of Facebook use may be maintaining or even exacerbating negative psychological outcomes, such as low mood and depression.”

Dr. Flynn gives the example of a person who discloses their personal problems on facebook while in a heightened emotional state.

That person “may feel even worse if they are disappointed by the quantity and quality of the feedback that they receive from their online peers,” she says.

Creating an online identity that seems to be accepted by others while concealing a part of yourself is one method of communicating that was discussed.

Co-author of the paper Karin Salam warned against people lashing out at social media:

“It is important to stress that the research does not suggest that there is something damaging about Facebook or other social media services, but rather, some people network online in ways that could be considered maladaptive, increasing distress and vulnerability.”

This study asked over 700 adult facebook users to conduct a swarm of green around the stadium which they happily did, even of it was just setting off the dustbins.

McDonalds hits back at Supermacs in battle over EU trademarks

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Supermac's wins major trademark battle with McDonald's

The latest round of fighting in Supermacs long running battle with McDonald’s over the Galway fast-food chain’s attempts to expand into Europe took place this week.

McDonalds filed a 40-page submission with the EU Intellectual Property Office seeking to prevent the Galway based fast-food chain from using the ‘Mac’ in Europe among other disputes.

Making its case earlier this year, Supermacs said that it had been operating under that name in Ireland for 40 years without any complaint from McDonald’s.

However, The Independent reports that McDonald’s claims that a long-standing co-existence with Supermacs and their brands in Ireland isn’t relevant to the case.

In May, Supermacs filed documents with the EUIPO pointing to areas where the two chains operate in close proximity without any confusion among customers, such as on the Headford road.

The US fast food chain also dismissed Supermacs’ argument that McDonald’s opposition was an abuse of its dominant market position in Europe.

Supermacs claimed that the real reason McDonald’s was opposed to their expansion had nothing to do with any trademark issue, but rather because they had the potential to be a competitor on the continent.

“Given the success of Supermac’s in Ireland and the UK, success in Europe would be highly achievable,” One submission claimed.

Pat and Una McDonagh, founders and owners of Supermacs, have been trying to expand into the European market since 2014, with no legal success.

Their first brand application was shot down by the EUIPO in 2016 after an objection by McDonald’s that customers would be confused by the two brands and their similarities.

The matter wasn’t left to lie there. A revised application was submitted in 2016 which was again opposed by McDonald’s on the grounds that it would infringe on their established trademarks.

Supermacs escalated in April last year by asking the regulator to immediately cancel McDonald’s trademark on the Big Mac, with Pat McDonagh saying that McDonald’s was engaged in trademark abuse by trademarking words like McKids, McFamily, McCountry, McWorld, McJob and McInternet.

“McDonald’s has literally registered the McWorld,” McDonagh said.

In its latest filing McDonald’s maintains that remains a likelihood of confusion between the two brands, and points the finger at Supermacs as having done nothing to address this.

Speaking to The Independent yesterday McDonagh said he is still confident of that Supermacs will be successful in their European application.

“Absolutely, if logic and common sense prevails. We should be successful. We await the decision of the EUIPO.”

 

Gaillimh v’s Baile Átha Cliath – cé a bheas an mbua acu?

By
Sheila Ní Bheaglaoich
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Gaillimh V Baile Átha Cliath - Galway Daily

Tabhairfidh fir na Gaillimhe aghaidh ar Baile Átha Cliath sa Cluiche Leath Ceannais Craobh Caide na hÉireann amárach.

Théis an cailliúnt a bhí ag an Gaillimh sa mbaile i Staid an Phiarsaigh i gcoinne Muineachán an tseachtain seo chaite sa cluiche dheireanach do na sár-ochtar beifear ag súil le cluiche níos fearr uathu.

D’fhág an toradh sin,ag cailliúnt an cluiche, go mbeadh ar Gaillimh aghaidh a thabhairt ar mBaile Átha Cliath sa Cluiche Leath Ceannais Craobh na hÉireann an tseachtain seo agus iad ag súil leis an mbua a fháil orthu.

Is i 1983 an uair dheireanach a bhuail an dá fhoireann ar a chéile sa Craobh agus bhí an bua ag Baile Átha Cliath an uair sin le dhá cúilín. Sé an scór dheireanach a bhí sa cluiche i 1983 ná Gaillimh 1-08   Baile Átha Cliath 1-10.

Beidh leaids na Gaillimhe ag súil nach an toradh céanna a bheas ann amárach agus iad ag súil leis an Cluiche Ceannais a shroicint agus an bua a fháil ar Baile Átha Cliath.

Beifear ag súil le cluiche maith ón Captaen Damien Comer mar aon leis an fear ó Corofin, Ian Burke. Sé Ian Burke atá díreach taobh thiar de Damien Comer ó thaobh na scóranna de agus beifear ag súil go mbeadh an beirt sin dúisithe agus réidh don imirt istóiche amárach.

Bhuaigh Baile Átha Cliath chuile cluiche a bhí acu sna sár-ochtar agus táthar muiníneach go mbeidís in ann an bheart a dhéanamh i gcoinne an Ghaillimh amárach.

An bhfuil seans ag an Gaillimh in aghaidh Baile Átha Cliath amárach nó an mbeimís ag faire ar cluiche aon-taobhach?

Tabhairfidh an Gaillimh aghaidh ar Baile Átha Cliath ag a 5.00i.n. amárach an 11ú Lúnasa i Cluiche Leath Ceannais Craobh Caide na hÉireann i bPáirc an Crócaigh. Beifear in ann faire ar an cluiche ar RTE 2 tráthnóna amárach. 

 

Streets of Galway 8km gets ready to hit the tarmac

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily sport streets of Galway 8km kicking off tomorrow

The Streets of Galway 8km run will be pounding through Galway’s thoroughfares tomorrow for the 33rd annual race through the city.

This year’s race is going to pack the streets to capacity with 3,250 people registered to run, the highest number that have ever taken part.

Organised by the Galway City Harriers Athletics Club, the Streets of Galway race has grown by huge leaps since it began 33 years ago, when only a few hundred people took part.

Now, says spokesperson for the Harriers David Glynn, it’s a major event in the city that people look forward to every year.

“A lot of people, this is the run they do every year and it’s a bit of fun for them. You know it’s a bit of craic.”

But there’s also a lot people that have trained hard to perform to their highest standard this Saturday, “Then of course you’ve got serious athletes as well, coming in at times like 24 minutes, ” David said.

At this very point in our conversation I could feel a strong urge to take a long, brisk walk along the Prom.

But this is a community event as well as a major race, with the Harriers and chief sponsor the Galway Clinic, encouraging people of all walks to get out, and get active.

In that spirit people taking part in the race this year have been encouraged to share training photos, and on race day tomorrow, using the hashtag #streetsofgalway to build up the hype and get everyone involved.

“Someone sees their friend is running, it might encourage them to do it as well,” David says, “So it’s just to build up a community spirit, that everyone is doing it.”

The encouragement really can really mean a lot to some of the people running, David says. A lot of people with the Harriers Fit4Life Adult training programme are taking part in the race tomorrow, and for some it’s a big leap.

“A lot of them, it’ll be the first race that they’ll be doing. So it’s really important for them to have encouragement from everyone.”

While some runners might put in that 24 minute time I’m still struggling to process, for others 8km is a big commitment.

The Race

Runners who’ve registered to race are collecting their race packs, with a numbered t-shirt and a timing chip so you don’t have to guess how you did, at Race HQ at the Claddagh Hall today and tomorrow morning.

Organisers have asked people to behave and show a bit of courtesy to the residents of the Claddagh who’ve let their neighbourhood be used as the hub of the race.

The race kicks off at 7pm sharp tomorrow at the Galway Technical Institute on Fr. Griffin road, with racers gathering at the starting line at 6:40pm.

On its path through the city, the route goes by some of the most iconic Galway sights: The Spanish Arch, Galway cathedral, and the NUI Galway campus.

Then back out towards Salthill past Pearse Stadium and along the Prom to finish up at the Claddagh.

Over 300 volunteers will be out on the night, working as marshals to direct runners and keep the track clear, or back organising things at Race HQ.

Prizes will be handed out at the Claddagh Hall at 8:30pm, and two winning photos using the #streetsofgalway tag will receive €50 vouchers for Elvery’s

The city

Having gone on for so many years, the Streets of Galway Race has become a event that draws in spectators and participants from every part of the community.

Many local businesses will be joining in the run itself, with local employers like HP, Medtronic, and Boston Scientific fielding teams.

And the Galway Clinic will be fielding approximately 60 runners. They’ve said that they’re happy to be involved in something that encourages people to get in some healthy exercise.

While it’s mostly a local race, David says they have about 400 runners coming from Dublin, 100 or so from Cork, and one or two coming over from the UK.

Many people will also use the race as a chance to raise money for charity.

Whether it’s teams from Croi, COPE, or ACT Meningitis who’ve all run in past races to raise money and awareness for their causes.

Or just your own private fundraiser for a cause you believe in, all who’re willing to run are welcome.

David’s pleased to talk about how the race has become a big draw for the crowds in Galway, “We go right through the city so it gets people out from the hotels in Eyre square, all the businesses along the route.”

“There’s a lot of tourists as well at this time. So we encourage them to come out and support it as well.”

If you want to support the Galway City Harriers and Galway Clinic Streets of Galway 8km run, you’ll catch them on the streets tomorrow from 7pm.

 

Celebrating The F Word – Galway’s feminist festival

By
Kate Robinson
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Galway News - The F Word feminist festival

Galway’s third annual F Word festival kicked off this week in a climate of skyrocketing awareness of feminist issues – thanks in part to a successful campaign to Repeal the Eighth and the influential #MeToo movement.

The festival – organised by the grassroots group Galway Feminist Collective – launched on Wednesday with a bicycle maintenance workshop for women and non-binary folks.

Other diverse and wide-ranging activities this week included a storytelling night, an art exhibit and open mic, and a zine-making workshop.

“It’s going really well,” said Galway Feminist Collective member Mari Hougen-Eizman. “All of the events so far have been really well attended, so that’s very exciting.”

Hougen-Eizman helped organise the festival along with other GFC members.

“We have a wide variety of events to sort of combine the different interests of our members,” she commented.

The focus is on intersectional feminism – which aims not just to advance women’s rights, but the rights of women of colour, immigrants, or gay, trans, or non-binary people as well.

The F Word continues this weekend with events such as tonight’s ‘Reclaim the Night’ march in Eyre Square to protest violence against women and LGBT people.

Organisers are expecting a good turnout, with people coming in from all over Ireland to march with drums, chants, and speakers from five different activist groups.

Saturday will see a whole day of talks and workshops on various topics such as climate change, trans rights, direct provision, and housing rights.

The trans rights and Direct Provision discussions come on the heels of the tragic death of a trans person in the Direct Provision system in Galway.

Another particularly relevant talk – ‘Reclaiming Housing Rights’ – is led by the Galway Housing Support Group, Dublin Central Housing Action, and UK-based ACORN Tenants’ Union and will be discussing self-organisation to mitigate the current housing crisis.

‘If you want something done then do it yourself,’ ACORN’s website states simply – a feeling that resonates with many in Ireland.

This comes in the midst of widespread frustration over government inaction on housing and the occupation of a vacant private residence in Dublin.

Finally, Sunday will include a more light-hearted programme of films by female directors and discussions on the massively successful Repeal campaign.

Said Hougen-Eizman: “The goal is to create more awareness of intersectional feminism and show that anyone can get involved – whether they’re interested in art, bicycles, whatever.”

To learn more about The F Word or the Galway Feminist Collective, check out their Facebook.

Staff at Merlin Park Hospital get green fingers with Healthy Ireland vegetable garden

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily Merlin Park Hospital staff start vegetable garden for Healthy Ireland

Merlin Park Hospital is encouraging staff to look after more than just humans with their new herb and vegetable garden.

The lunchtime gardening classes on the hospital campus are a Healthy Ireland Gardening Initiative to encourage staff to relax, socialise, and look after their physical and mental well being.

Margaret O’Toole, Business Manager at Merlin Park who came up with the idea, explains:

“The lunchtime gardening class brings staff together and gives them an opportunity to get to know one another and build friendships. Engaging with nature is good for the mind and body and plants give us a sense of connection.”

When she suggested it, Margaret says, the idea got nothing but positive feedback from other members of the staff, and they were well served by having expert knowledge on hand.

“Sean Fergus who is the horticulturist in Merlin Park came on board with us and provided the expertise needed to educate staff in all areas of gardening. To-date staff have planted a variety of vegetables and herbs.”

Anne Larkin, a staff member at Merlin Park who takes part in the classes loves them, “This class gives me something a little more creative and interesting to do at lunchtime which I thoroughly enjoy and look forward to.”

The Healthy Ireland Initiative was launched in 2013 over fears that our current lifestyle trends, exacerbated by inequality, will lead to a dangerously unhealthy future.

Not to mention an unaffordable one, as unhealthy living will rack up the healthcare costs in the long term.

Saolta was the first hospital group in Ireland to create a Healthy Ireland Implementation Plan in in 2014 to support the health and well being of staff an patients.

Since then Saolta has encouraged physical and mental well being through initiatives such as the Galway Unversity Hospitals Arts Trust, a staff choir choir at each hospital, and encouraging people to eat better among many others.

Of course any plan on promoting a healthier lifestyle also continues to tack issues that have long been of great concern to the health services such as smoking, drinking, and drug use.

 

 

Beirt Cailín ó Conamara le ionadaíocht a dhéanamh do foireann Éireann sa Seó Capall BÁC

By
Sheila Ní Bheaglaoich
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0
foireann

Tá beirt cailín óg ó Conamara le ionadaíocht a dhéanamh do foireann Éireann ag an Seó Capall Baile Átha Cliath.

Beidh an Seó Capall Baile Átha Claith ar siúl Dé Domhnach seo an 12ú Lúnasa agus roghnaíodh an beirt cailín don Foireann Feidhmíochta Idirnáisiúnta Chonamara, chun ionadaíocht a dhéanamh do Foireann Éireann.

Gaisce den scoth é don beirt cailíní ó Conamara le bheith ar an foireann do ceathrar maracach.

Is iad Talitha Diamond ó Diamonds Equine Rinn Mhaoile agus Caoimhe Curran ó Feirm Leitir Fraic a bheas ag tabhairt fé an gaisce seo.

Seo físeán a thóg Emmanuelle d’Albran do Talitha Diamond agus Sea Storm (Thunder).

https://www.facebook.com/DiamondsEquineRenvyle/videos/1797788640275109/?hc_ref=ARQTlnQky0ng2VWuCXA2946cSxOyObIRUonZNC9OjTCz7vK-QB-_BfJIMCSF-2tBzc0&hc_location=group

 

Ádh mór leis an beirt cailín óg Dé Domhnaigh san ard cathair.

NUI Galway recruits dementia carers for support services study

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily news Personalised treatment could reduce dementia risk

NUI Galway is recruiting the informal carers of people suffering from dementia for a study of the supports and services available to patients and their families after a recent diagnosis.

The study, the first of its kind in Ireland, is being carried out by a research team from NUIG’s Centre for Economic and Social Research on Dementia.

The period after a diagnosis of dementia can be a time of fear and uncertainty, not just for the person who’s life will be radically changed by this condition, but for those who find themselves unprepared for the responsibility of caring for a loved one.

The results of the study will be used to inform policy on what supports and services caregivers and patients need to plan for an uncertain future.

More than just taking the snapshot view of their lives, it will examine how these needs change over time as the condition progresses.

Dr. Patricia Carney, Health Economist at the Centre for Economic and Social Research and leader of the study warned that not supporting caregivers will have a serious impact on society.

“New investment in dementia care must reflect the preferences and needs of both the person with dementia and their informal carer.”

“Carers require more tangible and practical supports to allow them do the job that most love doing. The consequences of not supporting them will be significant for people with dementia and for society.”

The study will focus on recruiting carers from Donegal, where there are an estimated 2,200 people with dementia, the fifth highest rate in the country.

Only Galway, Cork, Tipperary, and Dublin have a higher prevalence rate in Ireland.

In order to take part, the person receiving care must have been diagnosed with dementia, or probable dementia, since January 2017.

Professor Eamon O’Shea, Director of the Centre for Economic and Social Research on Dementia said, “Carers play a crucial role in looking after people with dementia,”

“We need to know much more about their needs and preferences for different kinds of services and supports.”

Dementia is a blanket term covering a wide range of conditions that affect the brain, impairing people’s memory, language, and cognitive function.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland there are 55,000 people in Ireland living with dementia, with another 4,000 diagnosed every year.

As our population continues to age, there are projected to be more than 132,000 people suffering from dementia by 2041.

This makes it absolutely essential that we understand and implement supports to help family and friends provide care for these people before the problem overwhelms us altogether.

To participate in the study visit: www.nuigalway.ie/dementiacare

If you wish to learn more about dementia, the support services available in your area or becoming a carer, please visit the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland at http://alzheimer.ie/services-support.aspx or call the National Helpline on 1 800 341 341.

Galway has the fourth highest level of domestic water usage in Ireland

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily news Latest EPA report shows one Galway public water supply deemed "at-risk"

Galway has the fourth highest level of average daily domestic water usage in the country according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.

The average domestic water consumption in Galway in 2016, the most recent year there’s information available for, was 381 litres a day.

Galway’s daily domestic consumption was nearly 10% higher than the national average of 351 litres a day.

The only counties that used more water than Galway were Laois (382), Longford (388), and Offaly (398).

The county that used the least amount of domestic water daily in 2016 was Cavan, which consumed an average of 298 litres a day.

According to the CSO the national average water usage in 2016 was down 8.4% compared with the year before, when it was 383 litres.

A very small majority of metered customers also managed to use a massive amount of water.

Three quarters of all domestic water usage was used by 99.1% of metered customers.

This means that just 0.9% of metered customers accounted for a quarter of all domestic water usage in 2016.

However the report for 2016 notes that particularly high usage can often be indicative of a leak.

This data is based on monthly meter readings submitted by Irish Water to the CSO and does not include apartments, private wells, and many group water schemes which would be prevalent in rural Galway.

Galway’s Esker Festival Orchestra pulls classical music from young minds

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily life & style Esker Festival Orchestra perform at NUIG

Galway’s homegrown Esker Festival Orchestra is back in town this Friday with an evening of classical classics performed by some of the best young musicians Ireland.

The Esker Festival Orchestra was founded here in Galway to provide meaningful musical opportunities for young musicians from around Ireland.

It lets young people not only join an orchestra, but socialise and perform with other people like them.

Nurturing classical music without putting an undue financial burden on the young musicians who love it.

As part of their 2018 Festival Tour, The Esker Festival Orchestra are performing at the Emily Anderson Concert Hall, NUI Galway at 8pm on Friday, August 10.

Tickets are €15 or €10 concession and can be bought online or purchased at the door.

The 2018 programme consists of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A major, Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major with piano soloist Ellen Jansson (Cork School of Music) and 2016.4by the young Irish composer, Sebastian Adams.

The orchestra will be conducted by Galway man Peter Joyce.

Peter started playing the saxaphone at age 11, and by 15 he was travelling to and from his home in Esker to study the sax and clarinet in Dublin.

He’s played with everyone from the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra to Imelda May, and is currently studying conducting at the University of Vienna.

21 year old pianist Ellen Jansson began her path at the Cork School of Music and has since appeared as a soloist  the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine and the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland.

She’s won multiple awards at the Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil, both performing solo and in a group.

Recently she finished up a tour of the south with the Belvedere Trio and later this year they’ll be performing at concerts in Germany and Sweden.

Sebastian Adams is an Irish composer, viola player and artistic director. He’s been the composer in residence with Lyric fm in 2016 and has been commissioned with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and both RTÉ orchestras.

The music he composes has been performed by Crash Ensemble, Kirkos, Benyounes Quartet, Fidelio Trio, Sarah Watts, Carl Ludwig Hübsch, Lina Andonovska, and many others.

After their concert in Galway the Esker Festival Orchestra will be at the Curtis Auditorium in the Cork School of Music on Saturday, August 11 at 5pm.

Then it’s on to St. Anne’s Church, Dawson st in Dublin on Sunday, also at 5.

The Esker Festival Orchestra is supported by the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras, The Arts Council, RTÉ Supporting the Arts, NUI Galway and CIT Cork School of Music.

 

 

Man pepper sprayed after running out on taxi fare

By
Kate Robinson
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Galway News - Courts - Man pepper sprayed after not paying taxi fare

A Connemara man was sentenced for theft and public order offenses after running off without paying his taxi fare – and struggling with gardaí – back in 2013.

Mario Flores of Cill Chiarain, Connemara pleaded guilty to theft of a €14 taxi fare after absconding in the early hours of April 25, 2013.

The guards found Flores in a different taxi – where he became very abusive.

Following his arrest and arrival at Galway Garda Station the defendant became violent and was pepper sprayed.

This is the second time the 38-year-old has been pepper sprayed after non-payment of a taxi fare.

Flores had previously been sprayed and hit with a baton after putting a garda in a headlock following a refusal to pay his fare back in 2010.

Solicitor for the defense Brian Gilmartin stated that his client had suffered severe physical abuse as a child, which manifested in alcoholism.

But he noted that Flores has not had a drink in four years and regularly attends AA meetings.

“He is making genuine efforts,” Mr. Gilmartin observed.

The defendant had been teaching English in Morocco and Spain, but now resides in his native Connemara.

He expressed a desire to engage with psychiatric services.

Flores has 28 previous convictions, mostly for public order – including two in Spain for disobedience and assault.

District Court judge Timothy Lucey agreed that the defendant had an underlying problem.

“When you take a few drinks, you seem to go crazy,” he noted.

Judge Lucey sentenced Mr. Flores to three months imprisonment suspended for 12 months on the condition that he be of good behaviour and deal with his psychiatric issues.

Minister turns the sod on €5 million expansion to GMIT

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway daily news Free GMIT food entrepreneurship course course returns

Minister for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation Heather Humphries broke ground this morning on a planned expansion of GMIT’s Innovation Hub worth over €5 million.

The new building will more than double this size of GMIT’s iHub, providing room for an additional three MedTech R&D units, and 17 incubation units for Software, Digital Tech, and Connected Health start-ups.

It will also feature  a Co-Working space; an Events Space; Social Hubs; and, breakout meeting and networking areas and an entrepreneurship hub where staff, students, and others can work together on projects.

Speaking at the groundbreaking Minister Humphries said, “Now more than ever, companies need to innovate to meet the changing needs of markets, and these additional facilities will provide even greater opportunities for local entrepreneurs and researchers in this regard.”

The Minister also said that the expansion would provide a welcome boost to the local economy.

“This extended iHub will also impact positively on the local economy in Galway – the evidence tells us that new companies that start out in an incubator are more inclined to remain in that region.”

Permission for the expansion was given to GMIT back in April and over €5 million in funding was secured for the project the next month.

Enterprise Ireland will contribute €3 million towards the cost of the new building, while a further €500,000 will come from GMIT itself.

Another €1.8 million has been allocated for the New Frontiers programme 2016-2020 which is delivered through the iHub by Enterprise Ireland.

New Frontiers is Ireland’s national development programme for innovative early-stage start ups.

Companies that have previously come through New Frontiers include DiaNia Technologies, Contego Sports, TaxHug, Allergy Lifestyle, Wildwood Vinegars, Rockfield Medical, BriteBiz and VT Networks.

Attending the groundbreaking today were Mayor of Galway Niall McNelis and other local representatives, Head of Research & Innovation at Enterprise Ireland Gearóid Mooney, and of course GMIT leadership.

Dr. Michael Hannon, Deputy President of GMIT welcomed the new facility, which he said is needed to meet an ever growing number of start-ups in Galway.

“This new facility will allow greater interaction between cutting edge research and entrepreneurship at undergraduate level.”

“Importantly, the increased space that will allow double the number of enterprises to be supported, makes the iHub centre self-sustaining.”

Currently the iHub is supporting 23 different enterprises: 11 incubation start-up companies in MedTech and DigitalTech, five very early stage start-ups, and seven participants with the New Frontiers programme.

When the expansion is complete, there should be as many as 40 enterprises growing out of the iHub at any one time.

To date the iHub has supported creating 600 new jobs, 32 start-up, bringing 42 client companies to the region, and raised over €140 million in investment funding.

 

 

NUIG professor appointed to scrutinise how Ireland handles rape and sexual assault trials

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily news Professor Tom O'Malley to review handling of rape and sexual assault trials in Ireland

The Minister for Justice has appointed NUI Galway law lecturer Tom O’Malley to review how sexual assault trials are carried out in Ireland.

Minister Flannagan committed earlier to examine whether greater protections are needed for victims of sexual assault as well as all aspects of how trials are carried out in the Republic.

His announcement came after protests over the acquittal of Rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding for rape in Belfast in March.

Professor O’Malley has been a lecturer of law at NUIG since 1975 and has described the “maze” of laws governing sexual assault trials and the inconsistencies they create as a “pet topic” of his.

The Irish Times reports that professor O’Malley has been asked to look at the legal protections offered to complainants, the practice of pre-recorded cross examinations, and whether gardaí and members of the judiciary in dealing with vulnerable witnesses and accused persons.

Mr. O’Malley will report to the Minister on his findings with any proposed changes to the way trials are handled in the next few months.

Sources within the government told the Irish Times that a lot of work has already begun within the department of Justice, and that Professor O’Malley will be driving work forward from here on.

Professor O’Malley appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on the Eight Amendment last October where he spoke about a need to simplify our legal code when it comes to sexual offences.

“The entire law on evidence and the way it operates in the trial of sex offences, is now dispersed among at least a dozen statues dating from 1885 up to 2017,” Professor O’Malley said.

“It is something of a maze in which one section from one statute amends another. There is a crying need for something that many other countries have done, that is to say, produce a single comprehensive sexual offence statute that sets out all the offences.”

He said that drafting a single code could also provide an opportunity look at the “optimal conditions of the trial process”.

It would also give a chance to examine what protections need to be in place for complainants who are underage, have a mental disability, or are otherwise vulnerable.

Galway Daily is attempting to reach Professor O’Malley for a comment today.

 

Witnesses sought in serious Dyke road incident that hospitalised two

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily news missing teen found safe

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to a serious traffic incident on the Dyke road yesterday that left two people in hospital with serious injuries.

Two pedestrians, a man and a woman in their 50s were struck by a car outside the Black Box theatre at 8:30am on Wednesday morning.

They were taken to University Hospital Galway with serious injuries, though it’s understood they are conscious.

The Dyke road was closed for several hours yesterday between the Black Box and the Headford road junction while Gardaí conducted a technical examination of the scene.

According to Gardaí the driver of the car was not injured in the incident.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Mill st garda station at 091 538000, Garda Aiden Quinn is investigating.

Beidh an Scáileán Mór thar nais san Fhaiche Mór do Craobh na hÉireann

By
Sheila Ní Bheaglaoich
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Scáileán Mór san Fhaiche Mór

Tá sé fógartha go mbeidh an scáileán mór thar nais san Fhaiche Mór do Craobh na hÉireann.

Dúradh go mbeidh an scáileán mór thar nais san Fhaiche Mór do Cluiche Ceannais Craobh na hÉireann, mar a bhí anuraidh agus na sluaite daoine bailithe chun faire ar an bua a bhí ag an Gaillimh i gcoinne Port Láirge.

Lá den scoth a bhí ann leis an ghrian ag scoilteadh na gcloch agus beifear ag tnúth go mór leis an Cluiche Ceannais arís i mbliana agus iad dóchasach go mbeidh an ghrian ag taithneamh dóibh siúd a mbeidh san Fhaiche Mór ag faire ar an Cluiche Ceannais.

Bhí Méara na Gaillimhe ag obair i gcomhair leis an Comhlacht Gnó Cathair na Gaillimhe agus iad ag iarraidh ceadúnais a fháil chun an scáileán mór a thabhairt ar ais go dtí an Fhaiche Mór i mbliana.

Dúirt Méara na Gaillimhe, Niall McNelis go raibh sé fíor shásta go bhfuilid théis an ceadúnas a fháil don scáileán mór agus tá sé ag spreagadh na gnónna ar fad sa cathair chun teacht amach ar an lá agus tacaíocht a thabhairt d’fhoireann na Gaillimhe.

Beidh Cluiche Ceannais Craobh na hÉireann ar siúl ar an Domhnach an 19ú Lúnasa áit a mbeidh an Gaillimh ag tabhairt aghaidh ar Luimneach. Táthar ag súil go mbeidh Gaillimh, seaimpíní Craobh na hÉireann 2017 in ann an seilbh a choiméad ar Corn Liam McCarthy, do bliain eile, ar aon nós.

 

Majority of students don’t think heavy drinking affects ability to give consent

By
Briain Kelly
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galway daily news Galway publicans express disappointment with ongoing closure of wet pubs

More than two thirds of students don’t think that drinking the equivalent of an entire bottle of vodka or 14 pints affects their ability to consent to sex according to NUI Galway research.

NUIG’s SMART Consent team published their findings this week as part of a broader study of sexual consent and harassment at colleges.

753 students were surveyed online, and given two different scenarios where two students go home together after a night out drinking.

In one “moderate” version Carol and Neil drink the equivalent of 14 units of alcohol, and a “heavy” drinking version where they drink 28 units each.

Beyond the simple amount they had to drink, the story included lines meant to indicate how drunk the characters were.

In the heavy drinking version when they try to stand, “Neil spilled the tea all over the table and Carol nearly fell off her chair getting up to go to the bathroom.”

After that only 33% of students said that Carol was too drunk to give consent in that scenario, and only 30% felt that way about Neil.

Commenting on the findings of the study, Dr. Pádraig MacNeela, head of the SMART Consent Initiative, said:

“The survey findings show that the social environment in which consent takes place among college students is often unsupportive.”

“Most women experience harassment, a large majority of all students are dissatisfied with their sexual health education at school, and social norms for drinking minimise the true impact of alcohol on the capacity to give consent.”

And while only half of respondents said that they felt the two gave sufficient verbal signs of their consent to sex in either scenario, and two thirds said that they could regret this the next day, 70-80% of students felt that they had overall consented to sex without any pressure.

The report concludes that despite the high amount of alcohol they had consumed and behaviours that people associate with impaired capacity,

“The lack of apparent force or coercion in the scenario seems to have put it into the category of consensual drunk sex, yet the recognition among over half of the students that regret could occur the next day does suggest the potential to raise awareness that capacity to give consent is severely impacted by alcohol consumption.”

The findings of the larger study on sexual consent in colleges ‘Are Consent Workshops Sustainable and Feasible in Third Level Institutions?’ were announced by Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor earlier this week.

It conducted surveys an workshops with 3,500 students at four colleges around Ireland covering topics such as sexual harassment, sex education, and whether students had the skills to make informed decisions about their sex lives.

It’s reported that the Minister is now considering making classes on sexual consent mandatory at all colleges.

However in when looking at the findings of the report it should be noted that of the 753 students surveyed online for the study, only 15% of those actually completed it.

 

Beaked whale found dead on Omey Island is one of five found in a week

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news beached whale found on Omey Island is the fifth in a week

A Cuvier’s beaked whale found dead on Omey Island is one of five reported along the West Coast in a week, something the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group says is a serious concern.

The Cuiver’s beaked whale was found on Omey Island off the coast of Connemara last week on August 3.

Three more whales found dead were all discovered the next day in Mayo and Donegal.

One was found in Sheephaven Bay and one on Gola Island, Co. Donegal, while the other was reported at Tirraun on the Mullet Peninsula in Mayo.

All three animals had likely been dead for several days when they were found going on the condition they were in according to the IWDG.

The similarity of their conditions also suggests that the three whales died around the same time, the IWDG said.

The final stranded whale was reported from Cliffony in Co. Sligo on Tuesday, August 7.

The group stresses that the five dead whales reported so far are a, “minimum number, as other dead carcasses may not was ashore or may go unreported for other reasons.”

The IWDG found it deeply concerning that five beached whales were reported in such a short space of time.

“It would be relatively normal to record three or four strandings of this species in Ireland in any one year but it is highly unusual to have three recorded in separate locations on the one day.”

Images of the whale found on Gola Island were shared by the IWDG on their facebook page.

Cuvier’s beaked whales are a deep diving species and have been known to be forced to the surface by loud, sub-aquatic, man-made noises like sonar.

A member another deep diving whale species, a long-finned pilot whale, was also found dead on Cross Beach in Co. Mayo recently, close to where the Cuvier’s beaked whale was found.

The IWDG has recorded a total of 78 beached beaked whales since it began keeping count.

 

 

Probation for young man found with flick knife who’s leaving Ireland this week

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily probation for young man found in possession of a knife

A young man who was found with a flick out knife in his car was given probation and ordered to pay €300 donation to charity.

Forinel Stefu (24), who is staying at the Travelodge Hotel on the Tuam road, was charged with the possession of knife in his car last month.

The prosecution said that on July 9, a Garda saw Stefu in his car acting in what the Garda considered to be a suspicious manner.

He approached Stefu and asked him to step out of the vehicle, and when he did the Garda saw a flick knife on the car seat

Stefu pleaded guilty to a firearms charge at Galway District Court last week.

Solicitor for the defence Olivia Traynor said the reason the knife was in the car was because Stefu was moving rented accommodation at the time, and many of his possessions were in it.

Ms. Traynor said Stefu was adamant that he wanted to finish the matter that day as he is leaving the country on Thursday August 9.

Stefu came to Ireland a few months ago to try and find work, but as he has been unable to do so he and his long-term partner are moving.

He has no previous convictions.

Judge Fiona Lydon ordered Stefu to pay a €300 donation to Galway Hospice, on condition of which she would apply the probation act.

Stefu paid the donation on the same day, returning to the court with €300 after lunch.

Explore the taste of the sea at Crinniú na mBád sailing festival

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily life & style celebrate local seafood at Crinniú na mBád

A celebration of Atlantic seafood will take place at Crinniú na mBád sailing festival in Kinvara this weekend to mark Galway as the European Region of Gastronomy 2018.

Kinvara community group Cuan Beo will have an eclectic lineup of seafood cooking demonstrations, expert talks from chefs, authors, and academics, and you know they’ll be giving out samples of chefs’ favourite dishes.

The events for the Region of Gastronomy are spread between the main stage, where festival goes can catch various talks, and the kitchen stage, where chefs from local restaurants and hotels will be giving cooking demos on their specialties.

Local businesses supporting this Region of Gastronomy event with seafood cooking demonstration are The Pier Head, Keogh’s, The Merriman Hotel, Moran’s Oyster Cottage, Linnane’s Lobster Bar, ISHKA, Fox’s, Enoteca Il Molo and Gregan’s Castle.

The talks on the main stage will cover every topic to do with the sea including plastic pollution (Paul Connolly, Marine Institute), the seasonal movements of trout in the bay (Maurice Hannon, Interested Anglers Oranmore), and the heritage of marine communities on the Galway coast (John Bhaba Jeic O’Conghaile, Lettermullen Heritage Centre).

Programme Coordinator with Galway, European Region of Gastronomy Elaine Donoghue said, “Cuan Beo is working tirelessly to educate us all on the importance of our water quality,”

“And it is great to see the linkages with research and seafood-cooking taking place in a practical showcase at this long-standing festival.”

Crinniú na mBád sailing festival was founded by Kinvara man Tony Moylan to celebrate old maritime links between Kinvara and Connemara in 1979.

In the past Galway Hookers would carry turf from Connemara to Kinvara as the latter had no bogs to draw fuel from, and would return loaded with grain and produce.

Galway Hookers at Crinniú na mBád sailing festival

These days, at Crinniú na mBád, these simple but majestic cargo boats fill the bay to commemorate the traditional commerce the existed between the areas.

There’ll be plenty of other sailing boats on the water, and one staple of Crinniú na mBád is the Climín.

A Climín is ‘raft’ made out of seaweed gathered and tied together in blocks to bring it back to shore.

Seaweed harvesting has long been a traditional industry along the west coast and still endures in Connemara to this day, though the traditional harvesters have come under threat from larger entities.

The Crinniú na mBád festival is on this weekend August 10 – 12. The cooking demonstrations and talks will begin every day at 12:30pm in the Cuan Beo marquee

European Region of Gastronomy

As a certainly fancy sounding word, Gastronomy might call to mind either Michelin star chefs cooking tiny portions with prices that can be best measured in how-many-months-rent.

Or some Heston Blumenthal food-science/wizardry that requires liquid nitrogen and a centrifuge to make just the right kind of milkshake.

But what it really means is the connection between food and culture.

Galway and the entire west coast of Ireland has a rich history of fishing and marine food going as far back as there have been people here.

Every year the region produces enough food to feed one and a half million people.

The European Region of Gastronomy 2018 designation is a an opportunity to share the best seafood produced in Galway with tourists and other visitors from Europe and beyond.

 

 

 

Famous saint’s relics to come to Galway

By
Kate Robinson
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Galway News - Saint Therese relics come to Galway

The relics of St Therese of Lisieux and her parents will come to Galway Cathedral on Thursday 16 August.

Currently at Knock, the saints’ relics are travelling throughout Ireland for the World Meeting of Families 2018 to enable people to personally venerate these 19th Century French saints.

Born Marie Francoise-Thérèse Martin in Alençon, France in 1873 – and known as ‘The Little Flower’ – Therese was one of the most popular saints in the history of the Catholic church.

She entered the Carmelite Monastery of Lisieux at the unusually young age of 15, taking the name Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus, and later adding ‘and of the Holy Face’.

The young saint taught Carmelite novices the virtues of humility by word and example.

She became famous for her teachings on humility, written up as her ‘Little Way’.

The youngest child of Louis and Zélie Martin, whose relics are touring Ireland alongside those of their daughter, Therese died of tuberculosis at the age of 24.

She was canonized in 1925 with Pope Saint Pius X referring to her as ‘the greatest saint of modern times’.

St Therese was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II in 1997. She is also co-patroness of the Missions and secondary patron of France.

A mass and liturgy of welcome will take place at the Galway Cathedral at 11am, followed by veneration of the relics from 12 noon until 10pm.

On Friday 17 August a mass and ceremony of departure will take place at 7:30am before the relics are sent to three different churches in Loughrea.

They will move on to Limerick City on Saturday and then will be travelling around the east of Ireland before arriving at the Opening Ceremony in the R.D.S., Dublin, on Tuesday, August 21.

The relics will also be in the sanctuary in the Phoenix Park for the Papal Mass on Sunday, August 26.

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