HSE urged by councillor to reconsider drug treatment clinic location

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

A city councillor is calling on the HSE to reconsider its decision to move a drug treatment clinic from Shantalla Health Centre to Mervue Health Centre and to find a “more suitable location”.

Independent councillor for Galway City East, Declan McDonnell, said that he was alarmed and very concerned that the drug treatment facility was moved from Shantalla Health Centre in January by the HSE to Mervue Health Centre “without consultation or communication with residents in the area”. Cllr McDonnell is currently waiting for a response from the HSE in relation to a request he made for a meeting to discuss the matter further.

Supreme court judge to deliver School of Law annual lecture at NUIG

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

Mr Justice Nial Fennelly of the Supreme Court and formerly Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union, will deliver the School of Law annual distinguished lecture on Friday April 4 at 8pm in the Aula Maxima (ground floor), at NUI Galway. The title of his lecture will be: The National Judge and the European Union.

Get your Tweet on at free social media talk next month

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

Learn how to get the most out of Twitter at a free briefing event organised by Irish Times Training, which will take place in Galway next month.

Kyne inspects progress on Maírois coastal protection works

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

Fine Gael TD for Galway West Sean Kyne and Galway county councillor Seosamh Ó Laoi visited Maírois, Baile na hAbhainn, on Friday last to inspect the progress on works to install coastal protection rock armour to lesson the impact of waves against the graveyard which was battered during the January and February storms.

Works are currently on-going on the protection and repair of the graveyard following approval of funding by the Government. Minister Simon Coveney visited the graveyard in February following an invitation from Deputy Kyne and expressed concern about the damage done at Maírois. In the Dail the following week Minister Coveney confirmed that he had instructed the county manager to proceed with works at Maírois which will be funding by his department. Coastal protection works were estimated to cost €80,000 and works within the graveyard including the construction of a new wall were estimated at €40,000.

Pearce Flannery slams hypocrisy of Shannon Port Company

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

Local election candidate for Galway West, Pearce Flannery, has slammed the hypocrisy of the Shannon Foynes Port Company for its objection to the proposed development of the Galway docklands.

Speaking to a full house at the Western Business Forum in Galway yesterday evening, Pearce Flannery said that a body such as the SFPC should be above such jealous rivalry, and branded its actions as extremely anti-competitive.

Award-winning pianist Eliza Puchianu to perform in new GMIT concert series

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

Award-winning Romanian pianist Eliza Puchianu is to perform a programme of sonatas by Beethoven and Chopin in Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) on Wednesday next, April 2, as part of a new series of concerts called ‘Magical Moments’ launched by the Institute.

Love Galway this April and take part in An Taisce's National Spring Clean campaign

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

April is National Spring Clean month and Galway City Council is encouraging schools, groups, and individuals from all over the city to take part in Ireland's biggest anti-litter initiative.

Council must ‘take action’ on unfinished Claregalway estate says Shevlin

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

The Galway County Council must “take action” on Cúirt na hAbhainn estate in Claregalway, where half of the houses are unfinished and many remain unsold.

Mother and daughter take lead roles in two shows in city this weekend

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

A mother and daughter from Claregalway will face off in a battle of the shows this weekend in the city when both take lead roles in two excellent productions being staged in two different theatres.

Councillors slam Transport minister for abandoning Claregalway bypass

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

Although welcoming the announcement that the M17/18 Gort to Tuam motorway will go ahead, many county councillors have voiced serious objections to the news that the Claregalway bypass project has been abandoned, despite more than €750,000 being allocated to the project.

Murdered Aran man was left to die just yards from his front door, trial hears

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

Aran Islander Ciaran Conneely who was murdered in Boston in 2011 was shot dead by a 16-year-old in a botched robbery attempt, prosecutors say, and left to die just a few steps from the sanctity of his Dorchester home, a trial in Boston heard last week.

Harbour developers to contribute to road and bridge replacement

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

Developers of the major Galway Harbour Extension will be asked to dig deep to contribute to the upgrading of Lough Atalia Road and replacement of Wolfe Tone Bridge to mitigate the significant wear and tear that will be caused by a significant increase in HGV movements, as well as agreeing to be subject to penalty clauses if the traffic management plan is not adhered to.

On January 14 last An Bord Pleanála requested the Galway City Council to prepare a report setting out its views on the effects that the proposed development would have on the environment and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area of the authority. This follows the lodgement of the application by Galway Harbour Company to An Bord Pleanála under the IROPI (Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest). The planning board requested that the council address 27 identified issues, and the council presented its report, with more than 40 conditions attached, to the chamber at Monday’s Galway City Council meeting. The report is due to be submitted to the board by April 3 and an oral hearing will be held by An Bord Pleanála in early May.

Harbour project impact must be minimised

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

A few years ago, I hauled the entire hard copy archive of the Advertiser up to M6 to Dublin to get it all scanned so that it would be preserved for ever. That tonne or so of yellowing old papers containing hundreds of thousands of pages were then individually scanned so that the changing commercial and cultural life of a city could be retained for future generations to look back on. (The result is contained on a free archive for all to see and use at archive.advertiser.ie ) However, the net result of that journey is that the existence of such an archive gives us all perspective on the changing face of this city and how major projects have come and gone in the last fifty years.

This week we have news of what will perhaps be the two biggest projects in the west over the next decade. Contracts will be signed soon on the Tuam to Gort motorway which will create at least 1,500 jobs over the next three years, and in the city chambers this week, we heard of the advancement of the plans to develop Galway Harbour to the standard which will see it be able to compete with others and attract the lucrative cruise liner business.

‘I find great humour in the west, especially among women’ – Anakana Schofield

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

“It’s hard to believe I’ve been answering questions about this book for two years,” muses author Anakana Schofield, speaking from her Vancouver home.

Documentary on the Englishman who helped poor Galwegians

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

A documentary, to be broadcast next week, looks at the English Quaker James H Tuke, who helped save thousands of west of Ireland people from destitution and poverty.

Irish Heart Foundation invite local volunteers and supporters to mark 25 years of Happy Hearts

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

The Irish Heart Foundation is inviting volunteers and supporters from Galway to join in a special 25-year Happy Hearts Appeal anniversary celebration kindly supported by local SuperValu stores on April 2 in the Pillo Hotel, Galway. To mark the special occasion, TG4 presenter Mairead Ni Chuaig will launch the Happy Heart celebration in honour of the great volunteering spirit of the people of Galway.

Since the Happy Hearts Appeal began in 1990, Galway volunteers have been at the heart of the community for a quarter of a century selling happy hearts and raising vital donations to prevent the development of heart disease and stroke among children and adults in Galway and nationwide.

Calling all Galway foodies — the search is on for Ireland’s Foodie Town

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

The Restaurants Association of Ireland, in conjunction with Admailer.ie from An Post, is on the search for Ireland’s premier foodie destination, and a group of Galway gourmands are preparing to compete with towns and communities around the country to be named Ireland’s top foodie town.

The Foodie Town of Ireland award will recognise a destination that actively promotes itself through joint promotional activities such as food festivals, gourmet trails, or farmers’ markets as well as great dining experiences. The winning Irish town will have an established a local producer/supplier network which is utilised and promoted by local businesses. Plans for future growth and investment into the food and hospitality industry at a local level will also be taken into consideration by judges. Education, training, development, and employment will be key components of the ultimate foodie destination.

EU elections - why would anyone bother?

Thu, Mar 27, 2014

Seeing the occasional poster of a local election candidate advertising public meetings on various issues of concern, Insider noted that, within a month’s time, towns, villages, and the countryside will be radically altered as the election poster blitz takes hold.

NUI Galway study shows migrant children have less chance of college

Thu, Mar 20, 2014

Children of non-migrant parents have a significant advantage over children of migrant parents when it comes to educational achoievement and ambition, a major study undertaken at NUI Galway has revealed. In the study, the Population and Migration research cluster at the Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway has identified an emerging achievement gap between young migrants and their non-migrant peers, which will result in a significant under-representation in third-level institutions.

Amenity grants available for residents associations

Thu, Mar 20, 2014

Community and residents associations in Galway city have until the end of April to apply for the 2014 amenity grants from the Galway City Council.

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