Contracts issued for design team for new school building for Moycullen

Thu, May 21, 2020

Contracts to appoint a design team for a proposed new, larger school building, with upgraded facilities, to accommodate Moycullen's growing population, have been appointed.

Going like Jacuzzis - a reflection on FF and FG's path to coalition

Thu, May 21, 2020

At the height of our artificially inflated economic boom, or Celtic Tiger, the owners of a prominent builders’ suppliers told a friend of mine that although the year was not yet over they were ‘amazed at the phenomenal amount of Jacuzzis’ they were selling.

Is a second election the answer to Government formation stalemate?

Thu, May 21, 2020

The first 100 days is traditionally the point at which a new government gets its first provisional review and points to achievements to show it has hit the ground running.

If you need help or want to help exiting lockdown

Thu, May 21, 2020

Before Ireland ever entered into lockdown on March 27, Dr Conor Hogan saw the warning signs to people’s mental health, for businesses and normal life, as we knew it then back then, in general.

With the Coronavirus around the corner, he created the ‘Irish Self Isolation Support’ group on Facebook. His mission was simple. By creating a group as such, people and would begin to warrant the warning signs of the impending surge of the Covid-19 pandemic, stay at home, and seek the positive and factual support on all issues of the crisis within the group. It worked. People flocked to the group in their thousands.

Biodiversity Week goes virtual

Thu, May 21, 2020

Biodiversity Week takes place from May 22 to 29, and many Galway events will take place online during this year’s celebration of nature.

I fought the lawn — Petition urges Say No to the Mow

Thu, May 21, 2020

A petition requesting that Galway City Council leave the green areas unmowed has been launched by Green Party Chairperson, Claire Hillery. The petition points out that during the pandemic, most council parks and grass verges have been allowed to grow wild and that, contrary to the belief that ‘neat and green is nice’, these wild parks and verges are far more beautiful with pinks, blues, yellows, whites and purples. The petition was launched last week and within 48 hours, more than 300 people had signed it, with names continuing to be added.

Re-opening Galway gets bike boost as businesses support campaign

Thu, May 21, 2020

Galway Cycling Campaign has said that it backing local businesses as the city knuckles down to kick-start the economy again.

The movement to ‘Change Our Streets’ is moving up a gear to make Galway city more family friendly, as Covid-19 movement restrictions begin to ease. Chairperson Kevin Jennings welcomed the publication of the City Council’s mobility plan, and sent a letter to the City Mobility Team on Monday to wish them every success.

West region accounts for just four per cent of all cases in the country

Thu, May 21, 2020

A total of 1,060 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the HSE West region, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s latest Covid-19 epidemiology report. This figure represents 4.9 per cent of the overall number of cases in the country.

What are you going to bring with you into this strange new world?

Thu, May 21, 2020

There are many new faces on the small country roads where I run each morning. People I have never before encountered out discovering the wonder of the countryside, finding the delights that have surrounded them for decades but which they might have never noticed to this extent. How many people have rediscovered the wonder of exercise? Granted it is easy now at this time of the year with the sun shining and the birds belting their little hearts out from every branch... and with less traffic on the roads making it safer for children to discover the wonder of cycling.

This week as we have entered the first phase of exiting lockdown, we go back into doing things the way we used to, although there will be many challenges to how we manage this while maintaining social distance and adhering to health and safety standards.

SmallWall helps local School with Inclusion and Social Distancing

Wed, May 20, 2020

Sean Dunleavy CEO of SmallWall from Kilconly, Tuam Co. Galway and Sarah McGinley principal of St. Josephs Special School, Newcastle Galway, have teamed up together to come up with a solution to Inclusion and social distancing once children and staff return to school. “I cried when I saw them, I have been looking for something like this to bring into the schoolyard long before covid19. In a busy playground, it’s important to respect that some children need a safe, quiet and cosy space where they can relax and have time out. Some will use the space to engage in self-regulation and practice their calming techniques if they are finding the playground overwhelming.” said Sarah

Calls for re-opened Galway to be conducive to social distancing

Thu, May 14, 2020

Calls have been made this week to change the streetscape of the city to make it more conducive to social distancing over the duration of the Covid-19 crisis.

Condemnation for protest on N84 which blocked ambulance and hindered frontline healthcare workers

Thu, May 14, 2020

A protest on the N84 Headford Road, against Garda checkpoints in the area, which disrupted traffic and delayed frontline medical workers from travelling into the city, has been condemned by a local councillor.

Survey shows most want to continue working from home

Thu, May 14, 2020

A recent survey by researchers from the Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway and the Western Development Commission (WDC) has shown that 83 per cent expressed interest in continuing to work remotely. Over half of those surveyed (51 per cent) had never worked remotely before the Covid-19 pandemic. Of those who had never worked remotely, 78 per cent would like to work remotely for some or all of the time after the crisis is over.

Galway must prioritise pedestrian and cycling facilities to meet challenges of post-Covid19 society

Thu, May 14, 2020

"When Autumn comes and more workplaces are open alongside schools and colleges we need to have increased walking and cycling for transport to work in this city. This will be needed alongside adapted but reliable public transport and personal car use, or we may be facing transport issues like we've never seen before."

Councillor says incoming government must prioritise disability community

Thu, May 14, 2020

According to the 2016 Census, there were over 643,000 people living in Ireland with a disability. That means 13.5 per cent, or one in seven people in Ireland with a disability. Data from 2015 told us that 132,000 people with disabilities were living in consistent poverty.

Galway goes global with virtual festival of technology

Thu, May 14, 2020

One of Ireland’s biggest tech events is going virtual and global this year. The international line-up of expert speakers has been announced for the AtlanTec Festival 2020 which takes place online from the 18-22 May 2020.

Connolly calls for clarity on re-opening of special schools

Thu, May 14, 2020

The continued closure of special schools "cannot be tolerated or accepted any longer", and the Government must give parents of pupils with "clarity as to when the special schools will reopen".

The ultimate Man’s Shed — Hector in Lockdown

Thu, May 14, 2020

We might be used of Hector, Ireland’s most famous intrepid traveller taking us to far flung lands all over the world but now like the rest of us he is in lockdown.

Public transport must be key focus of re-designed Western Distributor Road, says Connolly

Thu, May 14, 2020

A new design for the Western Distributor Road, including bus lanes and off road segregated cycle lanes, is set to become a reality, following the National Transport Authority provision of funding to the Galway Transportation Unit.

Lyons demands gardaí be more proactive in fining cyclists on the Prom

Thu, May 14, 2020

Despite fewer cars on the roads than ever before, the problem of people cycling on Salthill Promenade persists, an activity which is against the law and which also makes social distancing difficult.

E-paper

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