Croi — tacking the illnesses of a new Ireland

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

Croi has come a long way since it had that funding barometer sign outside the hospital, where passers-by could see just how much money it had to raise in order to give West of Ireland people a fair shot at surviving heart disease. Prior to Croi, if you had a dodgy ticker, you had to get on bone-rattling buses and cross the country in order to have your lifesaving surgery. Your chances of survival were reduced if you lived in the west. Back then too, the trauma of open heart surgery was so much more than it is today. Now, thanks to great leaps in technological advancement, bypasses and other invasive heart surgeries are becoming common and incredibly more lifesaving.

Croi was born into an Ireland reared on the Full Irish, into a part of the country where more and more people were dying from heart disease because of the way they were living their lives. In that regard, the charity was set up to tackle the killer disease of its time. It did this, and through patronages from the stars of Hollywood and the stars of all our communities, under the guidance of Neil Johnson and Prof Kieran Daly and Dr Jim Crowley and the late Ray Rooney, that barometer reached the top. Now the west has some of the finest cardiac facilities in the country with the Coronary Care Unit at UHG and the designation of the hospital as the supra-regional specialist cardiac centre.

Justice minister to review Lisbrook closure decision

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

The future of residents at Lisbrook House asylum centre remains unclear this morning as the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, reviews the controversial decision to close the centre and initiate relocation proceedings.

Fun for all the family at the Clarenbridge Oyster festival

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

Saturday’s family fun day organised by the Clarenbridge Oyster Festival has been designed to provide the kind of entertainment, relaxation, and respite that all families crave when looking for somewhere to spend a day out.

The Oyster Festival is now entering its 58th year which confirms a dedication in fulfilling the requirements in organising a memorable day out.

Athenry model having ‘time of her life’ at Playboy mansion

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

A County Galway model who was invited to visit Playboy boss Hugh Hefner’s mansion in Los Angeles says she is having the time of her life there.

Galway Tidy Towns and Garden Competition 2012

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

The winning entries in the Galway City Tidy Towns and Garden competition have been announced. Mary Crowe from Ballagh was deemed to have the finest front garden in the overall category while Pat McPhibin, 41 Emmet Avenue, scooped the prize in the same distinction but for front garden in a city council estate.

Ballinasloe to celebrate Culture Night with evening of drumming

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

Two events taking place in Ballinasloe on Culture Night will centre on drumming and percussion, with a drumming competition for local schools, and a public performance and barbecue.

Cuban speakers to raise issue of ‘Miami Five’ in Galway

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

Señora Magali Llort, mother of Fernando Gonzalez – one of the “Miami Five” – will address a public meeting in Galway tomorrow at 7.30pm in the SIPTU Hall, Brendan O’Hehir Road.

Scammers target Black Dragon kickboxing club with fake sponsorship cards

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

Residents in the Roscam and Doughiska area are being urged to be vigilant after numerous reports of scammers operating locally. The perpetrators, said to be males in their adolescent years have been allegedly calling to houses and masquerading as representatives of the Black Dragon Kickboxing club.

Three months suspended for tearing up station cell mattress

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

A 24-year-old man who tore up a mattress while being held in a garda station cell received a three month suspended sentence at Galway District Court this week.

Eyre Square to celebrate its tercentennial with open air concert

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

This year marks the 300th anniversary of the foundation of Eyre Square, and this milestone event in the city’s chief civic space will be marked with an open air concert this Saturday.

Play your part in The Gathering, says Walsh

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

A series of community meetings to organise local involvement in the Government’s tourism initiative, The Gathering, which takes place at a number of venues in Galway over the next month.

Tuam Road traffic lights favour the N6 traffic over the N17 traffic says Canney

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

Cllr Sean Canney has issued a statement of discontent in his response to the arrival of the new traffic lights on the Tuam Road. The former mayor of Galway has amplified the grief of his Tuam and North Galway based constituents about the inequality they have been subjected to when driving through those traffic lights. As it stands the current light alteration system facilitates those travelling on the N6 with an unfair advantage. This has manifested in a backlog of traffic on the N17.

Claregalway Secondary School starts enrolling

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

The new secondary school for Claregalway has begun to taking enrolments for September 2013 with enrolment forms being sent to parents.

Independent Galway West TD Noel Grealish has welcomed the news, however pupils will have to take classes in temporary accommodation until a site for the permanent school building has been identified.

Celeb spotting as Cannonball rolls into town this Saturday

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

The Cannonball convoy is due to arrive in Galway city on Saturday as part of efforts to raise funds for the Laura Lynn House charity.

See culinary master Harridine at work at Anthony Ryan’s Homestore

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

Are you a first time student who is wearied by your over reliance on the fast food outlets? Do you struggle when differentiating sauté from your sorbet? Well then guest appearance from celebrity chef Malcolm Harridine is an occasion you won’t want to miss. Cora Casserly from the marketing department at Anthony Ryan’s revealed that Mr Harridine has held cookery demonstrations in the past and is confident that the same atmosphere will be evident this time around.

“We’ve had him a few times before and he’s been well received by the public. He has a regular slot on the QBC cooking channel so he’s an experienced chef with a lot to offer to the people of Galway.” The accomplished culinary expert will be preparing meals from his distinguished repertoire at Anthony Ryan’s Homestore on Saturday September 15 from 10am - 4pm.

Square turf photo wins Skeff postcard competition

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

In its infancy Eyre Square was nothing more than an open stretch of grassy pasture known as The Green. Even then it was the central location for commercial and leisure activities and after 300 years of maintaining that pedigree of public attraction, it will

O Cuív calls for investigation of supermarkets rejecting ‘ugly fruit’

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

Supermarkets rejecting “ugly” fruit as “unmarketable” must be investigated, especially when farmers are struggling to harvest their crops following the poor summer weather.

Archives Conference 2012 takes place next month

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

The second annual Galway International Heritage Conference takes place in The Harbour Hotel, The Docks, on Thursday October 4 with the theme being ‘Archives: Celebrating Ireland’s Archival Heritage’.

Croi’s stroke centre to tackle the myths of sex after heart disease

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

Concerns over the ability to have a healthy sex life after tackling heart disease will be one of the topics to be discussed next week when local heart and stroke charity Croí will host a series of free public talks, seminars, workshops and ‘walk-in risk factor screening and assessments.

City to be punished for non-collection of household charge

Thu, Sep 13, 2012

Serious cuts will be made to the city’s budget for 2013 if the household charge is not collected from each house in the city, according to officials.

While the city has one of the highest collection rates in the country at 71 per cent, it has been revealed that more than 7,000 homes have not lodged a payment at City Hall.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.