We’re back in the saddle again...

Thu, Nov 13, 2014

On Monday week in Galway city, the ride will most definitely not be out of the question. For the cost of a loaf, a pint of milk, and one of those old-style paid-for newspapers you’d buy for your granny, you will be able to ride your way around this city to your heart’s content.

To hell with carpooling, or buses or taxis, from the end of the month, if you have come to town and suddenly start slapping your pockets at the realisation that you have forgotten your bike, (as you do) all will not be lost. From Monday week, the simply named Coca-Cola Zero Bikes scheme as brought to you by the National Transport Authority will see sexy bikes parked in strategically placed bike ranks, all available for you to hire for your journey across town.

Contradictory claims emerge over Salthill Garda Station ‘closure’

Mon, Nov 10, 2014

A war of words has broken out between Fine Gael and Independent Galway West TD Noel Grealish over claims that Salthill Garda Station will be closed down within the next two years.

Taoiseach to face water protest in Galway today

Mon, Nov 10, 2014

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, will be greeted by reminders of the public opposition to water charges and distrust of controversial quango Irish Water when he visits Galway today.

Flood of stray and unwanted dogs forces MADRA to shut for a month

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

Galway dog rescue charity MADRA has been forced to close its doors for the month of November as the number of stray and unwanted dogs in county Galway reaches an all-time high.

Roll over Rick Stein and tell Nigella the news

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

‘Quenelles of Goldfish’, ‘Piglet Brains and Barley Wine’, ‘Chilli-Chocolate Songbird Hearts’, ‘Fag-Ash & Seaweed Anti-Cupcake’; these might sound like ingredients from a Monty Python sketch but in fact they are all from menus dreamt up by the fiendishly fertile imaginations of The Domestic Godless, an absurdist gastronomic art collective from Cork.

Will Kitt or Keaveney win the Fianna Fáil seat in Galway East?

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

The catastrophic collapse of Fianna Fáil’s support at the last general election saw the party lose half of its seats in Galway as it nose-dived to the worst electoral result in its illustrious history.

Salthill Garda Station to close

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

The west side of Galway city and western Connemara region will be left without a dedicated Garda presence as Salthill Garda Station faces imminent closure.

Adopted people to have right to their birth certificates if new Bill is accepted

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

Adopted people will have a right to their birth certificates for the first time if a new bill published this week is accepted by the Government.

The legislation was produced by Senator Averil Power (who was adopted as a baby from a mother and baby home). It is co-sponsored by Senator Jillian Van Turnhout (former head of the Children’s Rights Alliance) and Senator Fidelma Healy Eames (an adoptive mother).

A Galway bike scheme run from Dublin will not work warns Connolly

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

The bike rental scheme for Galway cannot be successfully administered locally when it is being run by a national body situated on the other side of the country, in Dublin.

This is the view of Independent Galway City West councillor Catherine Connolly, who said questions remain as to who will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the bikes and docking stations and where such maintenance money is to come from.

Aran Island vessel to be the subject of TG4 documentary

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

A documentary exploring the history of a cargo vessel which ferried passengers and freight between Galway and the Aran Islands for more than 30 years will be shown on TG4 on Sunday November 9.

Dearth of bins in the city a source of annoyance to councillors

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

The lack of public bins in the city has led to one frustrated councillor admitting that she would flout the law in relation to dog fouling. Independent councillor Catherine Connolly outlined to the chamber how there is not one bin on the walkway between Nimmo’s pier and Grattan Road. ‘’People are expected to carry their dog’s poo all along this route, it is simply too much, it’s dangerous and disgusting, I would not do it,’’ she admitted. Director of services Tom Connell outlined how all bins in the city are now owned by the council. He acknowledged the importance of bins and said the situation was constantly being monitored by the local authority’s litter management unit. ‘’The litter management crew are doing a fantastic job in what is an ever challenging area.’’ Mr Connell said that bins were being replaced but it was a gradual process due to financial costraints. Fine Gael councillor Peter Keane was also irritated about the bin issue. ‘’With Galway being a premmier tourist destination, bins are so important, I am disapointed but not surprised that there is no money available for bins at the moment. As far as I can see there are none at all in the Blackrock area. We simply have to ringfence money for bins,’’ said Councillor Keane. Meanwhile, Councillor Ollie Crow was concerned about bins around Eyre Square and the general condition of the area. The Fianna Fail councillor believes that Eyre Square needs more attention and said the walkway in the middle of the square was in very poor condition. He said it was imperative that litter wardens be employed on Sundays in the run-up to Christmas ‘’They are vitalto have the city running on an effective basis.’’ Tom Connell admitted that Eyre Square needed more work and he said the council was currently assesing the issue.

Gardai investigate two fires at Knocknacarra playground

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

Gardai are investigating two separate fires caused by vandals at a children’s playground in Knocknacarra this week.

Crowe extremely concerned about lack of progress at arthouse cinema site

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

The on-going saga of Galway’s proposed arthouse cinema was again raised by Councillor Michael Crowe at this week’s meeting of the Galway City Council.

Galway Government TDs called on to oppose water charges

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

Calls to scrap the controversial and publicly mistrusted quango of Irish Water have intensified with one former government TD declaring the body a “fiasco”.

New pedestrian crossings for Oranmore

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

Three new pedestrian crossings are to be constructed on the Respond Road, Oranmore, following negotiations with the Galway County Council and the Department of Education.

Councillor disgusted that life-saving buoys are being thrown away

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

Between two and three life-saving ring buoys are being lost to Galway City Council on weekly basis due to the actions of thoughtless members of the public.

TD demands funding for Eamonn Deacy Park after Galway FC promotion

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

Galway FC’s promotion to the League of Ireland Premier Division should be marked by injection of funding for improvements to the club grounds of Eamonn Deacy Park.

Bye bye to the raft at Blackrock pier

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

Health and safety concerns have led to the removal of the well known life raft at Blackrock pier.

Lecture on Loughrea - ‘a den of infamy’

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

The next meeting of the Western Family History Association will be held on Wednesday November 12 in Lackagh Parish Centre (8.15pm).

Free foot screening for World Diabetes Day

Thu, Nov 06, 2014

Free foot screenings for diabetes will be provided by NUI Galway to mark World Diabetes Day on Friday week (November 14).

E-paper

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