Headford gears up for LipSync Kilcoona-Style

Thu, Feb 01, 2018

Move over Strictly…there’s a new show in town and this month, Headford is gearing up for a night to remember as staff, parents and friends of Kilcoona National School get ready to take to the stage for LipSync Battles Kilcoona-Style.

Inis Meain public water supply removed from EPA’s Remedial Action List

Thu, Feb 01, 2018

The Inis Meain water supply has been removed from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Remedial Action List (RAL) following a programme of works by Irish Water. The supply, which serves a population of 161 people was added to the RAL for elevated levels of trihalomethanes in the water. A programme of works has been completed on the island to bring the supply back into compliance.

In 2016 there were 13 Galway water supplies on the RAL, but due to significant investment by Irish Water this has been reduced to two with ongoing works taking place at the remaining plants to ensure their removal from the EPA’s action list by the middle of this year.

Galwegians to take leading roles in Social Democrats

Thu, Feb 01, 2018

Galway based members of the Social Democrats have been elected to leading positions within the party, following the party’s national conference in Dún Laoghaire last weekend.

The party sees Galway as one its key target areas in the State, with particular focus on the Galway West constituency. In the 2016 election, its candidate, Niall Ó Tuathail received 5.38 per cent of the vote, a total poll of 5,278, and lasted until the 11th count. He has been re-selected to run at the next election, and is seen, alongside Dublin councillor Gary Gannon, as one of the party’s best hopes to expand its Dáil presence of two seats - party leaders Roisin Shortall and Catherine Murphy.

Could you live without plastic for a week?

Thu, Feb 01, 2018

High profile Galwegians are tackling the challenge of living ‘plastic free’ for the week commencing February 5 as part of Plastic Free Week in Galway City. Participants include Mayor of Galway City Pearce Flannery; Jake Heenan, Flanker for Connacht Rugby; JP McMahon, of Michelin-star restaurant Aniar; Hannah Kiely, Chief Executive of Galway2020; Dr Peter Heffernan, Chief Executive of the Marine Institute; and a number of well-known faces from the cast of Ros na Rún, among others.

Galway traffic can ease if we make two hard choices on housing and cars

Thu, Feb 01, 2018

During my 33 years, Galway has changed from a large town to a small city. But we haven’t done a good job of managing that change. Housing estate after housing estate has sprung up with little additional services in the form of public transport, cycle lanes, community centres or local businesses. Jobs were located in business and industrial parks far away from where people lived.

Important spawning tributary of Lough Corrib targeted for improvement

Thu, Feb 01, 2018

Sean Kyne, TD, Minister with responsibility for the Inland Fisheries Sector this week announced that Inland Fisheries Ireland is to commence fish stock management operations on the Owenriff catchment, near Oughterard, to protect and restore trout stocks which have been impacted by recent introductions of pike to the catchment.

Minister Kyne said that the Owenriff catchment is one of the most important spawning and nursery tributaries of Lough Corrib, our most renowned wild trout fishery.

Could Galway be the world’s first plastic free city?

Thu, Feb 01, 2018

Galway is a European Green Leaf city, yet we, along with the rest of the planet, are drowning in plastic. The facts relating to our use of single use plastic and the resulting pollution and health implications such plastics cause are truly shocking.

Public meeting to discuss homeless crisis

Thu, Feb 01, 2018

The Government must declare the housing crisis “a national emergency” and put in place “concrete measures to house people in need”, People Before Profit Galway has declared ahead of a public meeting on the issue.

There are currently 8,374 people in the State, including 3,124 children, who are homeless - an increase of 1,665 since this time last year. In Galway the current official figure is 30 families in homeless accommodation. There are close to 5,000 households on the housing waiting list in Galway - an estimated total of 15,000 people - some of whom are waiting since 2002.

Doughiska development will deliver one thousand jobs

Thu, Feb 01, 2018

An application for planning permission for a development at Doughiska has been lodged this week with supporters believing it could create up to 1,000 jobs for that side of the city.

€12.5 million for 57 new social homes in Galway city

Mon, Jan 29, 2018

The Galway City Council has been allocated €12.5 million to build 57 new homes in the east of the city. The funding is provided by the Department of Housing, under the Rebuilding Ireland Local Authority Housing Construction Programme.

Iconic captain Muldoon calls time on rugby career

Thu, Jan 25, 2018

Connacht Rubgy legend and captain John Muldoon has announced he will retire from the professional game after 17 incredible years with the club. The 35-year-old, in his seventh year as captain, announced his decision to retire at the end of this season via an emotional tweet yesterday.

435million-year-old fossil starfish discovered in Maam Valley

Thu, Jan 25, 2018

A new species of fossil starfish discovered in the Maam Valley has been found to be 435 million years old, according to the latest issue of The Irish Journal of Earth Sciences, published by the Royal Irish Academy.

'Being on the edge of Europe gives us a different perspective on the world'

Thu, Jan 25, 2018

NUI Galway starts 2018 with a new president at the helm, Prof Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, who comes to the university after a seven-year stint as principal and dean of UCD College of Business, leading its schools in Dublin and its overseas programmes.

Tackle housing crises by making NAMA the 'National Housing Development Agency'

Thu, Jan 25, 2018

By now, the supposed paradox has become a truism: how is it that a State, which a decade ago had a housing bubble, now has a shortage? Why, when various surveys show thousands of vacant housing units, are so many unable to secure a home? Why has housing turned from an 'issue' to a 'crisis'?

Two decades of perfect sound for Galway Choral Association

Thu, Jan 25, 2018

Galway Choral Association is 20 years young in 2018, and to mark the occasion they are hosting a gala concert this weekend.

Making Waves in 2020

Thu, Jan 25, 2018

One of the more unusual duties of being the current mayor is a requirement to sit on the Board of the Galway 2020 Company overseeing the governance, operations and implementation of the European Capital of Culture 2020 programme.

More capacity needed in High Observation Unit at UHG, says Ó Cuív

Thu, Jan 25, 2018

Fianna Fáil TD for Galway West Éamon Ó Cuív says he is disappointed to learn that has been no increase in capacity at the High Observation Unit in the Department of Psychiatry at University Hospital Galway.

Convert your weekend as Skeff Late Bar and Kitchen launch banter-filled Six Nations coverage

Thu, Jan 25, 2018

On Friday, February 2 The Skeff Late Bar and Kitchen are kicking off their coverage of the Six Nations 2018 championships, by hosting a banter-filled Six Nations Preview night for the Womens and Mens competition.

The night will be hosted and podcasted by The Craggy Rugby Crew of Rob Murphy (The voice of Connacht Rugby on the Radio), William Davies and Alan Deegan.

Canney urges dog owners to be careful during lambing season

Thu, Jan 25, 2018

East Galway TD Seán Canney has this week urged dog owners to be mindful of attacks on sheep as the lambing season approaches.

McNelis demands action over blocked drains

Thu, Jan 25, 2018

Following serious incidents of surface flooding at Fr Griffin Road and Newtownsmith last weekend, which saw drains clogged and pedestrians splashed by passing cars, a local councillor has called for action to be taken.

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