Galway lockdown views: Monica Mac Donald

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

"Luckily for some of us, we work from home and I can see this way of working will become more the norm (and it is greener) once broadband is rolled out to all corners of the country. So I have been catching up on the boring stuff and becoming a domestic goddess (oh and doing laundry); baking muffins (and sharing but also eating them); and binging on TV; sorting photos; and cutting the grass. My travel crossword book is getting a bit of use (as we won't be flying for a good while) and I also sang on a video to my sons for Mother’s Day (not for the public as cats and dogs may run for cover). We are keeping our spirits up and praising our front liners and all those going to work to help us through this. Stay safe and please mind yourselves."

Lockdown abroad - Martina Geraghty

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

"Greetings from Cornwall. I am working on the frontline in NHS and it feels like the calm before the storm. Massive hugs to my family and friends in Headford and cousins in Galway city and county. I cycle every evening on my indoor trainer to exercise and pass the time. Stay strong and stay safe."

Lockdown abroad - Eduard Antoniu

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

"I am extremely busy at home as usual lately, no time or place for boredom and not enough time to do what I want, just stressed out by idiotic noisy neighbours. I'm not leaving the house even if it is postatomic (except for just running away back to Galway again) - I wish I never left it and now I cannot even run away back there.

"Love, stay safe, be well to my fellow deprived buskers Joel O'Neill, Niceol Blue, Moises Mas Garcia, and friends; Galway Street Club; Galway Buskers Community; to my open mic night hosts Ollie Keogh, Liam Carroll, their families and friends; to the ladies at the Aran Woollen store; to my local TD/leader, Mairead Farrell; to the Galway Advertiser staff particularly Declan Varley, Kernan Andrews, and their families; to the Casserly family in Athenry; and to anyone else who remembers me from back in 2013 to 2014 and my brief visits in 2015, 2017, and 2018."

Survey finds 90 per cent of businesses experiencing decline in revenue

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

A Chambers Ireland network survey, which included responses from 200 businesses located in Galway, has found that 94 percent of businesses see their revenue declining over the coming three months.

Lockdown abroad - David Browne

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

"I am in lockdown in Lanzarote. There is no walking the prom here. The weather is lovely and I am in a bungalow beside Playa Chica. It is boring but safe. God bless everyone and take care."

'Forgotten’ stranded Irish in Australia need Government’s help

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

Thousands of young Irish people are stranded and "forgotten" in Australia because of the Covid-19 pandemic and are "begging" for the Government’s help to come home.

Lockdown abroad - Daragh O'Fiannaidhe

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

"I am in Manchester and just moved into a new house yesterday afternoon. Luckily we moved everything in one day. My boredom will be filled with finding a place for everything in the new house."

Lockdown abroad - Adrienne Leader

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

"I am living in San Francisco. My work has shut down and I am home with the children. To pass the time we are going for drives by the water, gardening, and avoiding watching Trump on TV."

Councillors welcome 'sensible' decision on controversial apartment development

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

An Bord Pleanala's refusal to planning permission for more than 330 apartments at a site on the Western Distributor Road, and adjacent to Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, has been welcomed by local politicians.

Mental health care a vital service to combat effects of social distancing and self-isolation

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

The prolonged period of social distancing and self-isolation will have mental health ramifications which the Government must take this into account as part of its response to Covid-19.

Cheevers welcomes closures of council sports facilities

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

Closure of Galway City Council operated sports facilities is "vital to combat and to decrease the curve of Covid 19", according to Fianna Fáil Galway City East councillor, Alan Cheevers.

Farrell calls for emergency COVID-19 rent supplement payment

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

Emergency rent supplement, rent reductions and rent waivers must now be firmly on the Government’s agenda as Minister Eoghan Murphy introduces emergency legislation this week.

Galway City Council encourages public to deal with City Hall over the phone

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

Despite the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, the Galway City Council is continuing to provide essential services, and is asking the public to deal with it via www.galwaycity.ie, over the phone on 091 - 536400, instead of coming into the council itself.

Is the N6 Ring Road the right solution to Galway's 'Carmaggedon'?

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

Prior to the coronavirus restrictions, Insider had been attending the An Bord Pleanála oral hearings at the g Hotel, examining evidence, for and against, the building a new city bypass. However, due to the coronavirus, the hearings have ben postponed until at least April 8.

Keeping hope alive in challenging times

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

We can learn a lot from previous generations. Think about our ancestors who survived the Famine, wars, high child mortality rates, poor medical care and working conditions, the scourge of TB, and shortage of money.

Let us come out of this better people

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

I remember six years ago last month, for days and nights on end, tubed-up and staring at the ceiling of an isolation room in HDU, wondering if the suspended tiles there would move sufficiently to allow my soul through, just as they surely had let many before me. And when all you can focus on is a matrix of plastic tiles in a room normally reserved for those on the verge of checking out from life, your mind wanders to regret.

Galway woman creates coronavirus info website

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

A Galway woman has set up a website which collates all the must know information on the coronavirus and Covid-19 disease.

Bus and coach industry is ‘running on empty’

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

Galway’s bus and coach operators have warned today that their businesses are ‘running on empty’ and urgent Government action is needed to save the sector. The impact of the Coronavirus has been particularly hard on the sector, with the complete collapse of international and domestic tourism, and a huge reduction of passenger numbers on scheduled services.

In Galway alone, there are more than 800 people employed by the sector. The operators are financially struggling and many of their employees have had to be laid off for the duration of the crisis.

COPE Galway offers practical ways in which the elderly can seek help at this time

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

COPE Galway is reaching out to older people in Galway City and County to encourage them to look after themselves and to let their community help during the COVID-19 crisis.

While it is very important that those in older age brackets protect themselves as much as possible in the coming weeks and months, this will of course, lead to higher levels of loneliness and isolation . There are, however, ways of making this difficult time easier for older people and there is a huge amount of goodwill across the Galway community to help.

TG4 show looks at legend of Iggy Clarke

Thu, Mar 26, 2020

Famed Galway hurler Iggy Clarke is a Galway hurling legend, and hius eventful life on and off the pitrch will be the subject of TG4’s Laochra Gael programme tonight (Thursday).

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