Irish favourites to dominate opening day

Thu, Mar 05, 2015

There are certain acres of ground which are held sacred by followers of sport in this country. For those involved with the GAA it is a few acres of land off Jones Road in Dublin 3. For those who support Soccer and Rugby, it is a patch of land adjacent to Lansdowne Road in the south of the city. On these fields heros are made. Men and women gain reputations that last a lifetime and beyond for their endeavours on these pitches.

Horse Racing, and particularly National Hunt Racing, also has its sacred piece of ground where man and beast combine in pursuit of their holy grail. The irony for Irish National Hunt fans is that these few acres are in a town in the Cotswolds that couldn't be more English. All that changes next week, when an estimated 20,000 Irish people descend on the town. For this is Festival week at Cheltenham, and in a matter of minutes at various times throughout the week, heros will emerge to claim their place on a roll of honour that stretches back many generations.

Tuam breeder hoping for further Cheltenham success

Thu, Mar 05, 2015

A 70-year-old GP from Tuam will notice his own heart rate rise significantly at around 3.30pm next Tuesday afternoon. Dr John Waldron has a very special connection to the Champion Hurdle antepost favourite Faugheen, as he bred the seven-year-old gelding.

Galway’s first Steiner National School to open in Knocknacarra in September

Thu, Mar 05, 2015

An information evening will take place in Galway this month in advance of the opening of the city’s first Steiner national school later this year.

Naughton welcomes massive investment in festivals and events along Wild Atlantic Way

Thu, Mar 05, 2015

After €564,000 was this week approved by Fáilte Ireland for regional festivals and events, Senator Hildegarde Naughton, Galway – South Mayo constituency has said that she is pleased that a considerable portion of the investment in tourism has been allocated to counties along the Wild Atlantic Way.

Plan to ‘scupper’ N6 ring road to come before city council

Wed, Mar 04, 2015

City councillors will vote on a proposal to vary the Galway City Development Plan next week that could “scupper plans” for the controversial N6 ring road going through Ballybrit Racecourse. However the proposal also reveals deep divisions within Galway Fine Gael over the issue.

Motor tax funds used to prop up Irish Water as roads fill with snow and ice

Tue, Mar 03, 2015

Motor tax paid by Galway drivers is being used to prop up Irish Water at a time when many roads in the county have become impassable due to the recent snowfall and ice, Galway East Fianna Fáil TD Colm Keaveney, has alleged.

Cubbard demands immediate eviction notices for those who keep horses on estates

Tue, Mar 03, 2015

The neglect and possible death of a horse on a Ballybane housing estate has led Independent city councillor Mike Cubbard to demand immediate eviction notices for anyone who keepinf such animals on Galway City Council property.

Angry scenes as councillors plan Monday meeting on road proposal

Thu, Feb 26, 2015

The public disquiet over the proposed construction of the Galway City N6 Transport project shows no sign of abating with county councillors arranging an emergency meeting next Monday to debate the heated issue.

Derek Nolan - is he really a politically dead duck?

Thu, Feb 26, 2015

Insider is going against the grain here, but let him go out on a charred and severed limb, daring to posit that Labour Galway West TD Derek Nolan is not the electorally dead in the water, threatened with extinction political animal, that he appears to be.

‘There are many ways to connect - for me music is the one’

Thu, Feb 26, 2015

ANDRES MARTORELL is a man on the move. Sunday night found the singer in Carna, where he was taking part in a traditional singers circle. The following morning comes this interview. An hour later he is en route to Dublin to catch a flight to Denmark.

Councillors extremely frustrated at ‘regressive’ rates system

Thu, Feb 26, 2015

A debate on commercial rates at this week’s meeting of Galway County Council led one exasperated councillor to remark that there would not be a rural pub left in Galway in a few years time if the system was not changed. The method of collecting rates was labelled as ‘outdated and antiquated’ where the amounts paid were in no way related to business income.

New traffic lights for Ballybane Road

Thu, Feb 26, 2015

Work has begun on the installation of new traffic lights on the Ballybane Road, but the Galway City Council has been criticised for not installing a safe crossing sooner.

Force of nature heading up the French community in Galway

Thu, Feb 26, 2015

If you had told Catherine Gagneux when she arrived in Galway 20 years ago that she would now be working as an honorary consul to the French Ambassador in Ireland, she would have laughed heartily at the idea. Because, similar to the majority, Ms Gagneux knew nothing about diplomatic relations and did not have any family ties to anybody working in this field. And that is why her story is all the more remarkable.

Councillors welcome Apple announcement

Thu, Feb 26, 2015

Monday’s meeting of Galway County Council meeting began on an extremely positive note with councillors clamouring to be associated with Apple’s announcement that it was constructing a new data centre in Athenry. Special mention was given to local area councillor Peter Feeney who was singled out by a number of representatives for doing trojan work to attract industry to the locality.

What we know about Apple’s plans for the Athenry data centre

Thu, Feb 26, 2015

The new €850 million Apple data centre announced for Athenry this week will be one of the most advanced of its kind developed by the company to date.

Educate Together primary school to open in Tuam in September

Thu, Feb 26, 2015

A new multidenominational co-educational primary school will open in Tuam in September.

The Educate Together facility will be one of three new national schools to open this year. The others are in Castlebar, Co Mayo, and New Ross, Co Wexford.

Remembering babies who have died

Thu, Feb 26, 2015

A service of remembrance for babies who died around the time of birth will take place on Sunday at 3pm at the Church of the Holy Family, Mervue.

The event is being organised by Feileacain (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association of Ireland).

Eight gold medals for GMIT students at Catex 2015

Thu, Feb 26, 2015

Students in GMIT’s College of Tourism & Arts have once again swept the awards board at Catex 2015, one of the biggest national culinary competitions and networking events in the Irish food service industry.

Two Galway rivers show less than good compliance in new water standard survey

Thu, Feb 26, 2015

Waters in Clarinbridgge and Kilcolgan rivers were one of three in the west that have displayed less than good compliance with water quality standards.

Public talk tonight on writing about the environment

Thu, Feb 26, 2015

Author and lecturer Paddy Woodworth is to give a guest talk titled Writing Restoration: A Global Journey to the Cutting Edge of Conservation Science and Practice at NUI Galway tonight.

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