Councillors clash as Portiuncula downgrade criticised as ‘hollowing out’ of rural communities

Thu, Jan 22, 2026

Concerns over the continued downgrading of services at Portiuncula University Hospital (PUH) resurfaced sharply at last week’s meeting of Ballinasloe Municipal District, with councillors expressing frustration at a lack of transparency, accountability, and clear evidence underpinning decisions that have already led to the scaling back of maternity services.

Pitches wrecked by scooter-riding youths

Thu, Jan 22, 2026

Young people riding e-scooters are tearing up the €800,000 playing pitches behind Westside library, and a local councillor wants the area fenced off.

Labour wheels out big guns to target Dáil for Ogbu

Thu, Jan 22, 2026

Party leader Ivana Bacik will attend next week’s convention to select city councillor Helen Ogbu as Labour’s candidate for the 2026 Galway West by-election.

Expect soaring congestion costs

Thu, Jan 22, 2026

A long-anticipated report into congestion across Irish cities has been circulated several months after its publication, and its findings for Galway city are damning.

Man sentenced to 13 months told he could risk doubling sentence on appeal

Thu, Jan 22, 2026

A Tuam man who received 13 months in prison at the local District Court was told by a Judge that he could appeal the sentence to the Circuit Court, where he ran the risk of having it doubled.

Chef pleads guilty to drugs for sale or supply

Wed, Jan 21, 2026

A chef who pleaded guilty of possession of drugs for sale or supply before Judge Brian O’Callaghan at the Circuit Court had curfew conditions imposed tailored around his shift work at a Galway restaurant.

No one in their right mind would try this, court told

Tue, Jan 20, 2026

No one in their right mind would expect to get away with leaving a supermarket with a trolley full of unpaid-for groceries, was the defence put forward by a solicitor on behalf of a client who did just that.

Clarinbridge man on course to win World's Toughest Atlantic rowing race

Mon, Jan 19, 2026

A Galway man is on the verge of winning the World’s Toughest Row – a gruelling 4,800km journey across the Atlantic.

Financial controller fined for drunkenness

Mon, Jan 19, 2026

A Dublin-based financial controller found his reserves diminished by €200 as a consequence of his being arrested for drunkenness while on a night out during the Galway Races.

Detective got strong smell of cannabis from man in court on possession charge

Sat, Jan 17, 2026

A man was warned when he came before Galway Court on a cannabis possession charge, that getting the benefit of the Probation Act meant he was now “on the radar” and if he reoffended, there would be much more serious consequences for him.

Man tells court he is working and turning his life around with support of Simon

Fri, Jan 16, 2026

A man with serious alcohol issues who is in the care of the Simon Community is turning his life around, Galway District Court was told this week.

Mayor calls on city council to speed up plans for public toilets in Galway's parks

Fri, Jan 16, 2026

Galway City Council needs to provide the funds to allow people to spend a penny in the city’s public parks, according to Mayor of Galway Mike Cubbard.

Connolly campaign stalwart seeks to retain Galway West seat

Thu, Jan 15, 2026

Sheila Garrity, convener of the Galway branch of the 2025 Connolly Presidential Campaign, intends to retain the seat vacated by the former Claddagh-based TD’s election to the Áras in November.

Gardaí found blood in taxi and road in alleged passenger assault

Thu, Jan 15, 2026

A former city taxi driver is to stand trial accused of assaulting a passenger with whom he got involved in a dispute over a fare.

Judge takes dim view of gun being waved about in Galway pub

Thu, Jan 15, 2026

A YOUNG Mervue man was warned that he could face up to a year in prison for the offence of waving a gun about in a Galway pub.

Drunk climbed into manhole in fake compo scam attempt

Thu, Jan 15, 2026

A drunk man who climbed into a manhole in the street that workmen were working on was hoping to claim compensation for claimed injuries, Galway District Court was told this week.

Judge’s Wisdom of Solomon plea over dentist’s “rust bucket” topper

Thu, Jan 15, 2026

A Galway dentist taking a case in the Small Claims Court over the disputed loss of a piece of agricultural equipment was advised by a Judge to “have a chat outside” with the man he was suing to see if they couldn’t come to some agreement rather than have the dispute go to a third day in Court.

Man threw coffee at car driven by mother with children in rear

Thu, Jan 15, 2026

A young Oranmore man who hung out the window of a moving car and threw a cup of coffee at another vehicle being driven by a lady with her three young children in the rear, was warned by a Judge that he could face a charge of endangerment for such an action.

Welby will contest bye-election

Thu, Jan 15, 2026

Galway County Councillor Thomas Welby has confirmed he will run in the upcoming bye-election as an Independent candidate.

McDonagh welcomes funding for Sliding Rock park upgrades

Thu, Jan 15, 2026

Galway City Councillor John McDonagh has welcomed confirmation that funding has been approved for the Green Area Upgrades at Sliding Rock Park, Shantalla, following the project’s success in the Participatory Budget 2025 process.

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