Flawed school admission system is costing families says Nolan

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

The admission system parents need to go through to secure a place for their children in secondary schools is “flawed”, costly, and in some cases “unaffordable” and needs to be changed.

Druid production nominated for three major US theatre awards

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

Druid’s production of Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan has received three nominations in the prestigious Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards.

Plant hunter and guerrilla captive to give talk in NUIG

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

Tom Hart Dyke, the botanist and plant hunter, who has survived capture by the FARC guerillas, is coming to Galway to talk about his work and adventures.

Mayos go dancing

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

Muintir Muigheo - Mayo Association Galway is delighted to announce details of its upcoming dinner dance, which will be held in the Galway Bay Hotel on Friday, February 17 at 8pm. The annual dinner dance is the association's biggest event of the year and it promises to be an excellent night.

A master storyteller moves on

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

Every town needs its storytellers, its raconteurs who can fill a silence with a story plucked from the ether, who can use the power of words to shape situations, to create pictures in minds, to instil the emotions of laughter and to lift the tastebuds of imaginations. Every town and community needs to have an image of itself shaped through its wordsmiths who polish the mirror and hold it up to ourselves. On Tuesday night, Galway lost one of its best exponents of this art when John Cunningham passed away.

We need a referendum on the austerity treaty

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

“I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians,” the former French president Charles De Gaulle once said. Indeed he would have been within his rights to substitute the word ‘dangerous’ for ‘serious’.

‘Optical’ Friday sittings not availed of by Galway West TDs

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

The 31st Dáil may now sit for longer than previous Dáils, but that does not mean it is getting any more work done, a point which Galway West TDs seem to realise.

The Dáil now has shorter summer and Christmas holidays and recently Friday sittings were added to Dáil. However, last Friday’s sitting was not attended by any of the Galway West TDs.

Are ULA the real Left?

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

“Get a mandate!” barked Labour party Rottweiler, Councillor Billy Cameron. This verbal was directed at Dette McLoughlin, the chair of Galway’s United Left Alliance. However as quick as you could say travel expenses, McLoughlin replied: “You have no mandate to implement a household tax, nor to rob the poor to help the rich. If you had any principles you would resign from the Labour Party!”

Laying off staff at Rehab Recycle ‘makes no sense’ says Connolly

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

Laying off 20 staff members out of the 44 who work at the Rehab Recycle in Parkmore West Industrial Estate, Ballybrit, will have a “devastating effects” on both the employees and their families.

There’s nothing like the filthy lucre

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

When we were growing up, we never thought that people like the county council employee or the teacher or the guard ever cared about the filthy lucre. They were people who did the job cos it was part of what they were. In our minds, they were the salt of the earth, who came to their jobs because they had a calling, a sort of vocation brought to them on the road to Damascus, when they were struck by a strong light and told by a booming voice “Son, your future is in forward planning and Section Fours. Now go forth.” Young gardai then were not reared on diets of CSI and Midsomer Murders. No, they were hewn from Connemara rock, with necks like a jockey’s b.. ahem, like a jockey, and with a chest that ensured the silver insignia on their shoulders sat two yards apart. Teachers were normally the lucky ones in a family who would have the good luck to have had a grandmother or an aunt wealthy enough to send just one of them to third level while the rest stayed at home, fought over the farms and descended into a lifetime of alcoholism and inappropriate thoughts.

Laying off staff at Rehab Recycle ‘makes no sense’ says Connolly

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

Laying off 20 staff members out of the 44 who work at the Rehab Recycle in Parkmore West Industrial Estate, Ballybrit, will have a “devastating effects” on both the employees and their families.

Skillnet subsidised diploma in business, executive, and personal coach training

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

The next Coach Institute of Ireland one-year business, executive, and personal coach training programme will begin in Galway on Thursday and Friday, February 23 and 24. The programme will be facilitated two days a month from February to November, with a break during the summer months.

Open day at HiTec Education Centre

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

HiTec Education Centre, a training specialist in Galway since 1998, will hold an open day on Saturday February 18 at its new premises in Oranmore.

HiTec will introduce its new schedule for 2012 and will be offering discounts on all courses booked on the day. Courses are available in a wide range of areas including IT, business, accounting, healthcare, and childcare.

Individually tailored education at Galway Community College

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

Galway Community College has seen many changes since 1969 when it opened. Now into its fifth decade of providing education for its community, the college is continually improving its facilities to serve the needs of all learners. The school now offers courses across three separate areas of learning, namely mainstream (from first year to Leaving Cert), post-Leaving Cert (PLC further education), and adult education (part-time evening courses delivering hobby and FETAC Level 5 and 6 certification).

Galway City & County Childcare Committee to elect new parents’ representative

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

Galway City & County Childcare Committee is seeking a parent representative to join its board of management. All parents are invited to attend a parents’ meeting on Thursday February 16 in the Clayton Hotel, Galway, at 8pm, where an election will take place.

Opportunity knocks

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

Are you retiring or recently redundant? Are you looking for a new career or a second income? The Institute of Irish Leadership can help. The institute is currently enrolling for a new and certified career coaching programme, commencing in the spring.

Open day at International School of Make-Up Artistry

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

The International School of Make-up Artistry will hold an open day on Tuesday February 7 from 3pm to 6pm. The day will give prospective students the opportunity to meet the school principal, the school manager, and to watch a make-up demonstration by one of the school’s make-up artists.

Jewellery for cash businesses must take more responsbility, says Judge in stolen jewellery case

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

A mother and son failed to contest the charges of handling stolen jewellery after their credibility was deemed by a District Court judge to be in tatters.

Portumna workhouse project is big winner

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

The Irish Workhouse Centre Project in Portumna was the overall winner at the annual Galway County Heritage Awards, which were held in Loughrea last week.

Table quiz for Titans

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

Titans Basketball Club will hold its annual fundraising table quiz in The Westwood Hotel, Newcastle, on Thursday February 9.

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