Bog cotton or people’s homes - that is the choice as wrecking ball looms

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

Not since the slack-tongued Mylie Cyrus straddled a wrecking ball in the nip has there been such excitement over the demolition of buildings. However proposals to demolish up to 130 houses to make way for a new bypass in Galway has got locals twerking with rage.

Major show of public opposition to new ring road expected tonight

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

The controversial N6 Galway City Transport Project ring road routes must not divide Galwegians into warring bands “advocating the concerns of one area of the city over another”, but instead lead to unified opposition with a “total Galway perspective” a new protest group has announced.

Small schools may take on extra teachers under new policy

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

Small schools in County Galway may be in a position to retain teachers and, in some cases, qualify for additional ones, with the lowering of the current thresholds for taking on extra staff.

PBPA calls for Yes vote in same-sex referendum

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

While polls indicate a large majority support equal marriage rights, there can be no room for complacency in the Yes campaign which must ensure a good turnout on polling day.

A river runs through it

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

This morning, a Thursday morning, should have been like any other for the Gubbins family. They should be up and about their duties and doing the things that all Irish families do on a Thursday. Thoughts of the week past, the days to come, thoughts of their three children. But today will be a day most unlike any other. It is a day that they will bury their young son Brian. A likeable, popular, student whose ambition was to work in the world of media. For that he seemed to have all the attributes.

At around 2pm today, they will follow his coffin to the cemetery at Lisboney near Nenagh. Because Brian died in our city last weekend.

Belclare’s Kevin Steede a Countdown champ

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

A Galway man is making waves on Channel 4 gameshow Countdown. Kevin Steede, who is a native of Belclare, is now one of this year’s most successful contestants after winning eight games in a row. On average per series, only three or four individuals reach this stage of the competition.

Latest Garda figures show slight rise in crime last year

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

The number of reported crimes in Galway increased slightly last year, according to the latest figures released by An Garda Síochána.

Man’s body found in Loughrea lake

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

Gardaí are not treating as suspicious the death of a man whose body was found in Loughrea Lake yesterday morning.

Thousands of Massgoers celebrate Galway Novena

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

The Galway Solemn Novena, which began on Monday February 9, attracted close to 90,000 Massgoers over the nine days. Steady numbers of up to 10,000 people attended each day over the six daily Mass sessions.

The humble jug to be discussed at Oranmore Heritage Lecture Series

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

The fourth lecture in the Oranmore Heritage 2014/2015 Winter Heritage Lecture series will take place on Wednesday next February 25 at 7.30pm in Oranmore Library.

Entitled ‘ The social, political and cultural influence of the humble jug', the talk will be delivered by Claire Griffin of Clarenbridge Antiques.

Students diagnosed with tuberculosis in the city

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

Three students have been diagnosed with tuberculosis recently at two third level colleges in the city. Two are attending NUI Galway and one is a student at GMIT.

Fundraising table quiz to take place in Loughrea

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

A quiz will take place tomorrow Friday February 20 to help fund a Galway dancer’s trip to compete in the World Championships for Irish dancing.

Mullen condemns hospital spend on spin doctors rather than real doctors

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

Independent University Senator Rónán Mullen has expressed disappointment and frustration at the revelation that the Saolta Hospital Group (including Galway University Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital) spent €169,444.80 hiring the PR consultancy firm Setanta communications.

Social events for separated and divorced people under new umbrella group

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

A series of social events for separated and divorced people is be held in Galway in the coming weeks and months, under the umbrella of a new support network.

Migrant students required for research study on access to university

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

NUI Galway’s School of Education is seeking students to take part in a research study on the university experience of migrant students in Ireland. As one of the first studies of its kind in Ireland, it is important that student’s voices lead the research.

Fancy joining Ireland’s first virtual choir?

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

Do you want to join the NUI Galway Virtual Alumni Choir? In a first for NUI Galway and universities everywhere, the University is are calling on its graduates to get singing.

Fifty new paramedic posts announced for the west region

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

Fifty new paramedics posts are to be provided in the west of Ireland, staffing ambulance stations at Tuam and Mulranny, and be included in regular rostering.

The move to on-duty rostering is an attempt to improve response times as it requires staff to be at their stations or vehicles. The current practice of on-call rostering means paramedics are at home waiting to be called out. According to Fine Gael Galway East TD Paul Connaughton, this results in an average 20 minute delay in ambulance dispatching.

Give it a TRI at NRG Health & Fitness Bohermore to support young people’s mental health

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

NRG Health & Fitness Club in Bohermore, Galway are organising their second charity Indoor Relay Triathlon on Friday March 13. Teams of three will take part in relay with one person to swim, one to cycle and one to run simultaneously.

Greenway Route must serve best interests of farming and business communities, says Higgins

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

Senator Lorraine Higgins has called for the local section of the Dublin to Galway greenway route to be altered from the current plan which proposes to go through vast tracts of farmland in East Galway.

She said that while she is positive about the proposed greenway project and confident of the benefits it will bring to the area, she believesthe proposed route needs to be reconsidered.

Will dim drivers please get their lights functioning properly?

Thu, Feb 19, 2015

Firstly, I have to hold up my hands and admit that one of my pet hates on the road is drivers who travel the highways and byways of this county with defective headlights on a consistent basis. And that includes rear-lights which are faulty too.

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