Anti-water charges protest to be held in Galway on Saturday

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

With water charges coming into force this month, a public protest against the controversial new tax takes place in Eyre Square this Saturday from 1pm.

Probe after thousands of confidential farm documents found on Tuam roadside

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

The Galway County Council and the Data Protection Commissioner are to launch investigations in to what is being described as “a very serious incident” where a large number of confidential documents from the Department of Agriculture were found dumped outside Tuam. The rubbish was discovered strewn along a large portion of the Athenry Road near Ballyglunin.

Galway event to hear of the thrills of taking part in the world’s longest ocean race

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

Organisers of the world’s longest ocean race will be in Galway next week to host an event encouraging people from Connacht to take on the challenge of a lifetime by competing in the 40,000-mile Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

Construction work starts on NUI Galway’s new €30m Human Biology Building

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

Construction work has commenced on NUI Galway’s new Human Biology Building. The project cost will be in excess of €30m and is funded approximately one third by public exchequer funding including €7m as announced recently in Budget 2015, with the remaining two thirds funded from university sources. The project will help to sustain up to 200 construction jobs at its peak.

Volunteers sought for Foróige’s Big Brother Big Sister

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

Foróige’s Big Brother Big Sister Programme is seeking adult volunteers who would like to share their interests and hobbies with a young person who would benefit from the friendship.

Additional pressure on UHG A&E because patients are coming from far and wide, says senator

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

Additional pressure is being put on University Hospital Galway’s already overburdened emergency department because the facility is increasingly catering for patients from a wider geographical area.

Chelsea FC legend to speak in Galway

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

Paddy Mulligan, a member of the great Chelsea team of the late 1960s/early 1970s, who also earned 50 caps for the Republic of Ireland, is coming to Galway this weekend.

Post offices are a ‘social service’ to be protected says Naughton

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

The increasing move towards electronic billing and payment and the fall of stamp sales has put the post office network “under huge pressure”, but is not an argument for post office closures.

Progress being made on Connemara cultural centre

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

Amended plans for a project which will bring tens of thousands of visitors to Connemara have been agreed by Galway county councillors. A cultural centre and walking trail is being built adjacent to Patrick Pearse’s Cottage in Rosmuc and is due to be completed by 2016.

Councillors vote to protect landowners along proposed Greenway route

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

The way the State deals with property owners in Ireland has been severely criticised by Galway County councillors, one of whom described its approach as being “totally unacceptable”. It follows a discussion to remove the threat of compulsory purchase orders hanging over landowners on the proposed greenway route between Galway and Ballinasloe.

Last year a number of public meetings about the new cycling route took place in Loughrea, Oranmore, and Ballinasloe. The IFA, farmers, and landowners voiced anger and frustration that their lands were to be acquired using CPO.

Public lecture on Costa Rica’s peace tradition

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

Costa Rica’s struggle to promote peace and oppose militarisation and aggressive foreign policy from more powerful neighbours will be the subject of a public lecture.

Pedestrian dies following Ardrahan crash on Monday

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

The man who died following a crash in Ardrahan earlier this week has been named as Martin Heffernan. The 47-year-old was walking along the road near Labane cemetery when he was hit by a truck on Monday afternoon.

Emergency services attended the scene and Mr Heffernan was rushed to University Hospital Galway with severe injuries. However, he passed away at the hospital yesterday afternoon. Mr Heffernan who was originally from Woodford, had been living in Ardrahan for a number of years.

Council shows support to deaf community

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

Galway County Council has passed a motion calling on the Government to give official recognition status to Irish Sign Language.

Make a Brigit’s Cross for local charities

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

Brigit’s Garden is inviting the public to make a Brigit’s cross for themselves and one for charity at a special event to celebrate St Brigit’s Day on Sunday (February 1).

Gaeltacht areas experiencing consistent employment growth - Kyne

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

Gaeltacht areas are experiencing consistent employment growth and the focus of this Government is to see that continue, according to Fine Gael TD for Galway West, Sean Kyne.

Table quiz in aid of Special Olympian

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

A table quiz takes place in The Kings Head bar on Wednesday February 4 at 8pm in aid of Special Olympian Martin Diskin.

Apply immediately, say CAO as application deadline is fast approaching

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

The Central Applications Office (CAO) application deadline for undergraduate courses in Irish Higher Education Institutions is this Sunday, 1 February at 5:15pm.

Applicants who have not yet completed their application are urged by CAO to do so immediately, particularly restricted-category applicants or applicants applying for one or more of the restricted courses on offer.

Where there’s muck, there’s money — the digging continues

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

Paddy has a digger. And his father had a digger before him. His grandfather had a digger too. The great-grandfather didn't have a digger cos it hadn't been invented but he told everyone who knew him that he'd have had a digger if the man who made the diggers had been born before him and not 50 years after.

Councillors express their unhappiness with ongoing broadband issues

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

A civil servant received one of the coldest receptions ever afforded to a visitor at a Galway County Council meeting earlier this week when he gave a presentation on the National Broadband Plan. Sean Griffin from the Department of Communications was handed the unenviable task of delivering an update on the plan, and how it would affect long-suffering internet users in rural Galway. But it was unlikely that Mr Griffin had reckoned on a chamber packed with 39 irate councillors, each of whom was awarded time to speak on the contentious issue. And it was not pretty. At one stage the department representative was even accused of pedalling “happy pills’’ to pacify a bunch that were anything but happy.

President’s Ethics Initiative to discuss how human rights can inform healthcare

Thu, Jan 29, 2015

The issue of delivering healthcare fairly, using a human rights framework, will be discussed at NUI Galway on 6 February. The public event is part of the President’s Ethics Initiative and President Michael D. Higgins will open the event.

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