New Aran contract welcome but Government must ‘get it right’ next time says Grealish

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

The new contract awarding air services between the Aran Islands and the mainland is welcome but when the new contracts come up next year, the Government must listen to Islanders and not “make a dog’s dinner of the tender process”.

This is the view of Independent Galway West TD Noel Grealish, who welcomed the recent signing of a new one year contract between the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaelthact and Aer Arann, valued at €1.6 million, which ensures air services between the Aran Islands and Connemara from this month until September 30.

Paul Murphy to speak in Galway next week

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

TD Paul Murphy will be in Galway next week to address a public meeting on the issues of housing, water charges, political policing, and the “need for a political revolution” in the upcoming General Election.

Nursing opportunities await at the Galway Clinic which holds Open Day this weekend

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

The HSE recruitment embargo of 2009 meant zero jobs for 1,500 nurses graduating in Ireland each year. They were instead forced to go overseas for jobs and further training. Top destinations in 2014/2015 have been the UK, Australia, USA and UAE (in particular, Dubai). The current nursing crisis is creating a high demand for nursing staff, in particular, those with additional specialised or sub-specialised training. The call is out. Nurses come home.

Entrepreneurs – Time for a vote of confidence

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

arguably that prior Budgets have focused on tax measures to attract Foreign Direct Investment and that supportive tax measures for small businesses and entrepreneurs have received less attention. With the advent of improved technology, the option for Irish entrepreneurs to move their base outside of our shores is now a live one as many of them can easily conduct their business across borders. Therefore the need to encourage new entrepreneurs and support existing entrepreneurs is vital in ensuring the medium to long term health of the Irish economy.

Pádraic Ó Conaire replica statue will not be completed until next year

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

A new replica statue of Pádraic Ó Conaire, which was due to be in place in Eyre Square by the end of the year, will not be installed until next year following a delay.

Galway senator welcomes Budget childcare measures

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

Galway Fine Gael senator Hildegarde Naughton has labelled Tuesday’s Budget as ‘progressive’ and has welcomed its focus on childcare provision.

€50,000 Prize Fund for SCCUL Enterprise Awards

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

A €50,000 prize fund is on offer to Galway-based entrepreneurs in the sixth year of an innovative competition aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship and rewarding local enterprise. The sccul enterprise awards, launched on Monday night in the Institute for Lifecourse and Society, NUI Galway, is an initiative of community based company SCCUL Enterprises Ltd. 

Thermo King announce acquisition of Celtrak

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

Thermo King, a manufacturer of transport temperature control solutions for a variety of mobile applications and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, this week announced the acquisition of Galway-based Celtrak.

Rock Project founder to visit Galway for opening this Saturday

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

Galway’s newest and most exciting music school for 7 - 18 year olds, The Rock Project is opening in Knocknacarra Community Centre, Cappagh Road, Galway this Saturday October 17 2015 at 12.30 pm and some places are still available.

A kick in the dark — 1,500 registered for Galway Night Run

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

The Revive Active inaugural Galway Night Run on tomorrow night has attracted over 1,500 entrants.  The run which is taking place this Friday on The Prom at 8pm has seen remarkable entries from all across the west coast. The 5km route will take participants along Galway Bay, beginning and ending at Mutton Island. 

McInerney’s Loughrea Ireland’s best supermarket for hygiene and food safety finalist

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

McInerneys SuperValu of Loughrea has beaten off stiff competition from hundreds of excellent Irish businesses in its bid to make the elite list of finalists The National Q Mark Awards, which are held annually by the Excellence Ireland Quality Association (EIQA).

The official announcement of this select list of finalists came from Irene Collins, EIQA’s managing director. Ms Collins said that to be nominated for such an award serves as recognition that the services provided by a company far surpass current legislative requirements, that the team involved conduct their affairs with the customers’ best interests in mind, and most importantly, that the business itself is operating at the highest standard of performance in the country.

Baboró ambassador – Ger Power

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

One of my favourite Baboró memories is:
I have brought many different classes to Baboró from junior infants to sixth class over the years and each visit has delivered some fantastic memories. The excitement of the children prior to the show, and watching the enthusiasm and delight on their faces during the performance, is very rewarding for me as a teacher. A precious memory is when a child who is struggling academically comes to life and partakes in the show. Afterwards a fresh enthusiasm for school is developed. At last year’s show,“The Elves and the Shoemaker“by Fidget Feet, I witnessed wonder, belief and innocence expressed by the infants who were constantly engaged by the performance. A personal favourite of mine is any production by Theatre Lovett; Louis Lovett’s delivery is always worth watching and you’re guaranteed a laugh.

Moyola Park residents face water contamination for second time

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

Residents in Moyola Park were instructed not to use the water this week following the discovery of kerosene in tap water. This is the second time this year that the fuel has contaminated tap water in the Newcastle estate.

Event discussing the concept of Universal Design Homes to take place on Monday

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

BY CAROLINE WHELAN
An event will take place in the Town Hall on Monday October 19 to explain the concept, and discuss the benefit of Universal Design Homes. Members of the public who have an interest in this area are being encouraged to go along between 9am and 1pm. Dr Ger Cradddock and Neil P Murphy of the NDA will discuss what is Universal Design. Dr Craddock is the inaugural chief officer of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, a statutory body established by the Government in 2007.

The bid book is gone. Now the hard work starts

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

And so this is it. After all the walking and talking and consultations and soul searching and swearing and gnashing of teeth, it has all boiled down to 80 pages of glossy print which sits proudly in the back of a car this morning like a latter day Book of Kells as it winds its way south to Kerry. Precious cargo indeed, as it is the most important document to ever leave Galway. If successful, it will leave an imprint on the city like none before. An imprint that will last for the bulk of this century and locate Galway as the happening city in Ireland.

Yes, the bid book for the Capital of Culture has left town. This afternoon it will be handed into a building in Killarney and after that it will be in the lap of the Gods and the international team of judges who will evaluate its claims. They will poke it and stare at it, they will visit here and see if everything we say in it is true. They will look at all the applications and see if the true hunger for the title exists. They will look beyond the fancy footwork of report-writing. They will examine words like inclusion and consultation and diversity and access and faciities and see if each and every pledge made is more than just a pledge. They will come and walk our streets and see if they can smell it for themselves, this naked desire to be Capital of Culure. They will also detect any arrogance lest we should lose the run of ourselves and assume we have it. And they will go to all the other cities and towns and do exactly the same thing. And let the best bid win.

Buy a brick to acknowledge someone who inspires you

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

Two Galway city restaurants will host a ‘Wall of Inspiration’ on their premises, where people can buy a brick on which to write a special message to a person who has inspired them in their life, and in the process raise money for charity.

Nestors Supervalu group mental health awareness charity event raises €5000 for Jigsaw

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

Nestors Supervalu Oranmore held a charity event on Friday October 9 in aid of Jigsaw which saw cycling enthusiast Liam Coady, store manager Nestors Supervalu Oranmore, undertake a challenge to cycle 200km on his training bike in store, to raise funds for this worthy local charity.

A Budget to benefit all - except the disabled, rural Ireland, and those waiting for a house?

Wed, Oct 14, 2015

The increase in incomes due to changes in the USC, and the savings that will be made as a result of the extension of free GP care, and a second free pre-school year, will "more than cover the extra costs incurred by water charges and the property tax".

2,500 Galway children a year will use new national children’s hospital

Thu, Oct 08, 2015

More than 2,500 Galway children may benefit from the services provided by the new €650 million national children’s hospital in Dublin, which is expected to be completed by 2019.

Galway East - who will emerge victorious from the internal dogfights?

Thu, Oct 08, 2015

For many years Galway East was known as the dullest and most predicable of constituencies, reliably returning the same three TDs. Population growth and boundary changes saw the constituency gain a fourth seat in 1997, however, and this has given rise to some heated battles between the big two parties as well as seeing the emergence of Independent and Labour challenges.

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