Back by popular demand – Don Conroy’s painting workshop at The Lodge at Ashford Castle

Thu, Sep 02, 2021

Learn or improve your artistic skills. Back by popular demand, guests at The Lodge at Ashford Castle can join painting legend Don Conroy for a painting masterclass and workshop this October. A sell-out in 2020, the full day workshop offers guests the opportunity to learn how to paint or improve upon existing skills in a beautiful setting overlooking Lough Corrib in Mayo.

Dredging the Docks, 1963

Wed, Sep 01, 2021

Since Galway Docks were first constructed, they have undergone many changes. In the decade before the last world war, when transalantic liners were regular callers at the port, and when a fairly thriving coastal trade was being carried out, plans were prepared for the port so that Galway might cater more efficiently for sea traffic. There was a major scheme to build the Dún Aengus dock, the new pier, and to deepen the channel from 1937 to 1939. This meant the removal of thousands of tons of mud, soft materials, and granite. Most of this material was dumped near Hare Island. The work took longer than it should, mostly because of industrial disputes, but it was finally completed in 1939. Two units of the contractor’s equipment, a rock breaker and a floating crane, lay in the Commercial Dock throughout the war years.

Galway’s ‘Titanic’ burst into flames in the Atlantic

Wed, Sep 01, 2021

On Saturday October 6 1860 approximately one hundred miles out from Boston, the PS Connaught, one of the biggest and most spectacular transatlantic ships of its day, hit a storm, and sprung a leak. As water poured into the engine room, an auxiliary coal-fired engine was started which sparked a fire which rapidly spread out of control. Flames and smoke forced the 591 passengers and crew on to the top deck.

Gardenwise | Climbing stars – let late summer clematis take a leading role

Thu, Aug 26, 2021

They must be one of the most impressive climbing plants, with glorious blooms in a beautiful range of shades, but there’s no denying clematis can be tricky. Winter and spring types can mostly take care of themselves, but summer flowering clematis fall into several different categories, all needing pruning, and if you prune at the wrong time of year, you could lose a year’s flowers. It’s this kind of calendar-watching that puts lots of people off gardening, so my rule of thumb is always to keep it simple and choose things that don’t need to be mollycoddled.

Holistic wellness at SALT

Thu, Aug 26, 2021

Are you looking for therapies to help you maintain a healthy body and mind this autumn? Visit the experts in holistic wellness at SALT Float & Recovery Suites. Located two minutes off the M6 in Briarhill Business Park, this modern health spa is open seven days a week.

Lose up to two stone in 10 weeks

Thu, Aug 26, 2021

With total focus on fixing your metabolism, System 10 can transform your weight loss, energy, sleep, health and much more. A good metabolism is the foundation of everything you are. A good metabolism gets you burning more fat every hour, 24 hours a day. Nothing can beat it for results. It is your weight loss master switch.

Weight loss for life — how to lose up to two pounds a week and keep it off

Thu, Aug 26, 2021

Two pounds of fat is 7,000 calories. If you want to lose two pounds in one week, you need to create a calorie deficit of 500 calories per day. You can create the calorie deficit either by consuming less calories or by burning more calories through exercise.

Wine of the week – Forlong Tintilla 2017

Thu, Aug 26, 2021

Check out Joyce’s new and exclusive wine range from Spain and Portugal selected by Masters of Wine student Antonia Dominguez from Antonia’s Wines.

Galway coffee producer secures Lidl contract worth €500k

Thu, Aug 26, 2021

Lidl has announced a deal worth €500,000 with local Galway business, The Galway Roast, to supply its network of 210 stores across the island of Ireland. The 12-month contract will see family-run The Galway Roast’s delicious hand roasted blend of Guatemalan, Brazilian, and Honduran coffee stocked exclusively on Lidl shelves from next Thursday, bringing barista quality coffee to homes in Galway and beyond.

Having first opened as a small coffee shop in Tuam in 2008, The Galway Roast owner, Niall Murphy, bought a small 1 kilo roaster which he set up on site to develop his own signature coffee blend. Spending his evenings experimenting with different coffee beans and flavour combinations, often taste testing with his regular local customers, the artisan producer crafted the perfect coffee flavour. That same signature blend can now be found exclusively on Lidl shelves across the country.

A renaissance for the French Institute

Thu, Aug 26, 2021

Founded in 2005 by Brigitte Demay O'Carroll, the French Institute is well established as the place to learn French and experience the French culture in Galway. The institute operates from the Bridge Mills, an 18th century mill situated in the heart of Galway city. Traditionally offering in-person group and individual classes, the institute transitioned to online classes during the pandemic. This online offering proved to be successful and will be maintained, alongside in-person classes, as the institute prepares for the autumn season.

Upskill with GRETB Training Centre

Thu, Aug 26, 2021

Completing a GRETB training course offers many benefits from a personal and career perspective. It can provide you with access to employment opportunities in the future by developing your skills to compete in the employment market.

Trading Faces Stage School & Casting Agency

Thu, Aug 26, 2021

According to Claire Power, artistic director with Trading Faces, young performers have suffered greatly in the last 18 months. They need to breathe and create again. Their personal development and self esteem have been severely compromised. Taking part in acting, singing, and dancing workshops will boost confidence, in a fun environment.

The purpose of speech and drama with Claire Power

Thu, Aug 26, 2021

Speech and drama is a powerful way to empower students and enable them to develop self confidence, a creative imagination, empathy, and interpersonal skills. Students become better communicators in life as it involves using their voices and tones, facial expressions, body language, and movements, all of which are crucial in making students better communicators. This strong communication skill set will stay with them through life. Students develop their speech skills as they explore dramatic monologues, and while speaking poetry and prose. With clear articulation, and correcting any speech faults, they grow confident enough to speak in front of an audience.

ICPPD – a unique learning environment, ethos, and culture

Thu, Aug 26, 2021

Delivering programmes in Galway, Athlone, and online and with an administrative headquarters in Athlone, the International College for Personal and Professional Development, ICPPD, opened its doors to learners in September 2010.

The west of Ireland lacks civilisation – But it has poetry

Wed, Aug 25, 2021

‘The capital, Galway, is a terrible place. It has of course St Nicholas, one of the few remaining preReformation churches; the frontispiece of a Renaissance town house erected as a gateway to the public park; and a medieval fortified house about which they tell the well-known story of the Lynch who hanged his own son when the sheriff wasn't available. At least once a year while I was director of the Abbey theatre we got a play on that. From Miss Edgeworth's account of her travels to Galway it would appear that as a theme for tragedy it was popular a hundred years ago. But even before that I had a lively hatred of the town....'

Back to school time

Wed, Aug 25, 2021

This is the time of the year when our thoughts turn to schoolbooks, copy books, pens and pencils, bus schedules, etc, as we prepare our children and grandchildren for the new school year. Inevitably it brings our thoughts back to our own school years, the friendships we formed, the teachers we liked or disliked. In those first days in class you felt you had been abandoned by your mother as she left you in with a crowd of complete strangers presided over by an adult that you had never seen before. In the case of anyone who went to Scoil Fhursa that adult was known as Bean Uí Duignan. She was a saint who quickly became a surrogate mother to every child that entered her classroom, walked them up and down the clós during sosanna, and prepared them for whatever was ahead.

Croí Galway webinar on cardiovascular disease

Thu, Aug 19, 2021

The emotional recovery involved in post cardiac events or after receiving a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, will be the subject of a free webinar taking place next week.

Skills to Advance with GRETB

Thu, Aug 19, 2021

Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) has a number of highly funded online business courses available this autumn. These courses are available to employees and employers to upskill and provide relevant, valuable, skills for today’s workplace.

Under the Government funded Skills to Advance initiative, employers can avail of this funded training to help and benefit their organisation, which can help to improve their employees' skills level, respond to the changing nature of business, or help take advantage of emerging opportunities. Upskilling staff is central to delivering long term sustainable growth and adapting to the rapid changes businesses are facing.

Irish language classes at Áras na nGael

Thu, Aug 19, 2021

Áras na nGael is now offering a chance to learn Irish through its series of autumn language classes. The classes are tailored to students' needs. There are classes for complete beginners, a refresher course for those who are slightly rusty, and intermediate classes for those who would like to advance to the next level with their language learning.

The teachers have several years of experience facilitating classes to enable learners to develop what they hear, read, and speak in the language. Learners will be amazed at how quickly their confidence develops; understanding and speaking Irish in the relaxed environment of classes where the emphasis is on conversational Irish and words and phrases that are in everyday use.

Wine of the week – Enate Cabernet Merlot 2018

Thu, Aug 19, 2021

Check out Joyce’s new and exclusive wine range from Spain and Portugal selected by Masters of Wine student Antonia Dominguez from Antonia’s Wines.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.