Mindfulness — what is it, and what are the effects?

Thu, Feb 06, 2014

Perhaps to begin with a definition is best. Mindfulness is knowing what is happening while it is happening, with a non-judgmental attitude, indeed an open curious attitude. So what does this mean for you? With so many demands of modern living, we often follow habitual patterns. We repeat again and again the same old reactions to life events, particularly when our buttons are pushed. This usually leads to the same old unsatisfactory outcomes. As Tony Robbins once said, “Do what you always do, and you will get what you always get.” To enhance our own wellbeing, and respond to life’s challenges in a new way, it is helpful to train our own minds to become more aware of, and to weaken, our habitual patterns.

Consequently mindfulness training can be described as going to the gym for your mind, and involves moving into the now, into the present moment. What about the effects? In fact most of us would regard the effects as benefits. These, according to the American Psychological Association, are reduced stress, less worry and rumination, improved relationships, less emotional reactivity, increased concentration and insight, and more mental flexibility.

GMIT students mourn the tragic loss of Sara and Dace

Thu, Feb 06, 2014

The funerals of the two young GMIT students who were killed in a fire in a student residence in Belgium will take place in the coming days as family, classmates, friends, and staff of the technical institute mourn the tragic loss together in Galway.

Sending Ballinasloe patients to ‘creaking’ city psychiatric unit ‘defies logic’

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

Political pressure must be put on the HSE West to review its decision that all new mental health patients from Ballinasloe must now attend the psychiatric unit at University Hospital Galway, a former vice chairperson of the HSE West’s regional health forum insists.

Latest Garda Report shows city crime down ten per cent

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

Crime in the city last year was down 10 per cent with a total of 6,707 incidents detected, according to the latest Garda Report presented to members of the Galway City Joint Policing Committee.

City Council issues flood warning

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

Areas of Galway city could once again be under water as there is a risk of further flooding during exceptionally high tides from today until Tuesday.

CCTV needed for Bowling Green, says Nolan

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

by Martina Nee

Galway Food Festival information meeting

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

In advance of the 2014 Galway Food Festival, an information meeting to plan and prepare for the event, takes place in the Galway City Museum this Tuesday at 6pm.

Discover the universe at Galway Astronomy Festival this weekend

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

City of Stars is the theme for this year’s Galway Astronomy Festival, which will take place in the Westwood Hotel on Saturday. The festival — now the biggest annual gathering of amateur astronomers in the country — will feature talks by some of top names in astronomy from the US, UK, and Ireland, as well as exhibitions, workshops, trade stands, and a trip to the NUI Galway observatory timed to coincide with the new moon.

County councillor calls for national debate on Traveller accommodation

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

A county councillor has called for a national debate on Traveller accommodation to take place in order to properly deal with an issue which continues to cause tensions in communities and costs the State money.

Fine Gael councillor Jimmy McClearn made the comments at the Galway County Council meeting on Monday

Galway children to star in new series of Moone Boy

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

Young Galway actors will be starring alongside Chris O’Dowd in the new series of Moone Boy which is will be shown on Sky next month.

Clifden woman ‘stunned’ when she heard she had won carer award

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

A Clifden woman who has been a carer for 28-years was “stunned” when she was named a regional finalist recently in the national Comfort Keepers Carer of theYear Awards.

One year on and Advertiser Deals is still home for the best online deals in Galway

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

The Galway Advertiser has always been the market leader in the west in connecting businesses with customers, whether they are shoppers looking for the best bargains or students looking for the best accommodation. For more than four decades, that has been our raison d'etre, coupled with providing an informative and entertaining newspaper.

Galway schools to be excluded from book rental scheme says FF’s Nora Fahy

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

The vast majority of schools in County Galway will not be able to apply for the school book rental scheme as they are ineligible for it due to their own fundraising efforts.

Galway’s €20 million road funding to help repair storm damage

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

Roads damaged in the recent severe storm weather could benefit from remediation works sooner than expected as nearly €20 million has been allocated for the maintenance and strengthening of local and regional roads in Galway city and county.

Irish Water is about profit, not service to the public says Emrich

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

Irish Water will eventually be privatised and a basic and essential element will be taken over by private bodies to be “turned into liquid gold profits”.

Mayor calls for crackdown on city brothel boom

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

Galway city mayor Padraig Conneely repeated his call for the gardai to do more to stop the “booming trade” of a city centre brothel, adding that he continues to be concerned about human trafficking.

Cá raibh Fine Gael agus an Lucht Oibre?

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

Tá fearg ar phobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta nach raibh oiread is ionadaí amháin ó Fhine Gael nó an Lucht Oibre i láthair ag an gcruinniú den Fhochoiste Oireachtais faoin Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge a bhí ar siúl i dTeach Laighin an tseachtain seo caite, tráth a raibh an Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin ag labhairt os comhair an Choiste.

Cruinniú poiblí ar son chearta na Gaeilge

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

Tabharfar deis do phobal Chonamara díospóireacht a dhéanamh ar na hionsaithe leanúnach atá a dhéanamh ag an Stát ar an nGaeilge agus ar an nGaeltacht, ag Cruinniú Poiblí a bheidh ar siúl Dé Luain seo chugainn, 3 Feabhra, i Seanscoil Sailearna, Indreabhán. Cuirfear tús leis an gcruinniú ag 8.00in.

Clarinbridge cannot be expected to pay water charges says candidate Kinane

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

Clarinbridge residents cannot be expected to pay water charges when many cannot even use their showers due to pressure problems with the area’s water supplies.

NUIG launches Múscailt arts festival

Thu, Jan 30, 2014

Music, art, spectacle, performance and literature, and plenty of free events will make up Múscailt, NUI Galway’s annual arts festival which was launched this week.

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