Isn’t it time we stopped killing dogs?

Thu, May 07, 2015

See the picture with this article? It shows about 50 dogs. Not rabid strays. Not unkempt mongrels. All of these dogs in this photo were rescued by MADRA from being “put to sleep” in April alone. In Galway. That’s just one month. If you look at the picture again and double it, what you will see is the approximate number of dogs that are put to sleep in our city pound each year. Funded by ourselves. A sad indictment that so many animals abandoned through no fault of their own have to be killed, no matter how humanely the process is described or how Disneyified the ‘put to sleep” scenario sounds. Bottom line is Fido doesn’t wake up.

From 2011 to 2013, 324 dogs were killed. That’s more than half of the dogs that were cared for in the pound in that period. But surely there has to be a better way. Surely our city doesn’t want to be seen as a killing field for canines.

‘Stop the cull on the One Parent Family Payment’ says Ó Cuív

Wed, May 06, 2015

More than 3,000 Galway families are set to lose anything up to €80 a week from July as the age threshold for the One Parent Family Payment is cut from 16 to seven, a move which could force some parents out of the workplace, a local TD has warned.

Water meters to be installed in Galway ‘in the coming weeks’

Tue, May 05, 2015

Irish Water will install water meters in Galway city “in the coming weeks”, starting in Knocknacarra. However a local councillor is calling on the controversial company to “continue its practice” of not installing meters “on properties which reject them”.

Higgins demands ‘zero tolerance for zero hours contracts’

Tue, May 05, 2015

A zero tolerance attitude needs to be taken towards zero hours contracts as such contracts do nothing for the rights, livelihoods, or prospects of working people.

Planners consider a ‘seventh route’ as deadline day on road decision approaches

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

A seventh route for the highly controversial N6 Galway City Transport Project is being considered following the groundswell of opposition to the six routes already proposed.

Labour succumb to neo-liberalism

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

Insider spotted Labour Galway West TD Derek Nolan out knocking doors the other evening. He can only hope Dep Nolan’s appearance on the doorsteps does not impact too negatively on the Yes vote for marriage equality.

Drums, clowns, refugees …and sacrilegious lesbians

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

Among the highlights of the Galway Theatre Festival is the trilogy of acclaimed one-man shows from percussionist and performer Brian Fleming; Gis a Shot of Your Bongos Mister, Have Yis No Homes to Go To, and A Sacrilegious Lesbian and Homosexual Parade.

Cancer patients had appointments cancelled due to staff shortages

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

Forty patients who were due to attend an outpatient cancer clinic at University Hospital Galway on Tuesday had their appointments cancelled due to a shortage of staff.

Galway County Council pledges €1.5 million to Ireland West Airport

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

Galway County Councillors have agreed to the local authority taking an equity share in Ireland West Airport Knock, in an attempt to secure the future of the transport facility.

Gardai continue their search for ‘dangerous’ on-the-run English teenager

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

There are fears that an English man, who is wanted by police following the rape of a 13-year-old girl, could be hiding in the west of Ireland after he was spotted in Sligo in recent weeks.

Benny the Big Boot is back — Citywide active travel competition for schools

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

After a very successful competition last year, Benny the Boot is back for 2015. And all city national schools are asked to get creative about how their pupils travel to and from school. An Taisce Green-Schools in partnership with Galway City Council re-launched the citywide active travel competition this week at Woodquay.

Focus on lifestyle to reduce heart disease risk, urges Croí dietitian

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

The key to a healthy lifestyle is good nutrition, regular exercise and stress management.

That is according to Claire Kerins, a specialist dietitian with the local heart and stroke charity Croí.

Major Summer School on the Arts and Human Rights to take place just before Arts Festival

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

Thought leaders from the seemingly disparate worlds of human rights and the arts will come together for the Galway International Summer School on the Arts and Human Rights from 9-11 July. This landmark event, a world-first, is hosted by NUI Galway’s Irish Centre for Human Rights, and will take place in the days immediately before the Galway International Arts Festival.

Councillors support plan for a discount foodstore in Athenry

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

Galway county councillors have agreed to a material contravention of the Athenry Local Area Plan to make way for the development of a discount foodstore in the town.

One thousand paws needed for prom walk in aid of MADRA

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

World-famous musician Sharon Shannon is calling on dog owners to sign up to take part in the MADRA Dogathon event which will take place on Sunday, May 17, from the Claddagh Hall in Galway city at 1pm.

Galway City Dog Pound set for €125,000 upgrade

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

The Galway City Dog Pound is set to become a much improved place for city strays and unwanted dogs awaiting new homes, as it is set for a €125,000 upgrade.

Grants delay makes people with disabilities ‘prisoners in their homes’ says Grealish

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

Galwegians with severe disabilities are being “virtual prisoners in their own homes” with the Government’s failure to bring in legislation to hire transport or get a specially adapted car.

New short courses at NUI Galway for people over 55

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

NUI Galway’s Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (ICSG) is recruiting participants aged 55 or over who are living in Galway city and county to participate in a free, short course. The new programme, Touchstone, aims to develop the skills and knowledge of people who wish to play a part in helping to make their communities more age friendly.

Touchstone will run over six weeks, with each weekly session lasting around two hours. Initially, the course will be held on two different days each week, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ó Conchúir calls for urgent action on “ludicrous situation” with Salthill Tourist Office

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

Sinn Féin Councillor Cathal Ó Conchúir is calling on the government, Fáilte Ireland and Galway City Council to rectify what he says is the “ludicrous situation” that has seen the Tourist Office in Salthill closed for the past few years.

Ó Clochartaigh surprised that route selection report to be withheld from public representatives

Thu, Apr 30, 2015

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Sinn Féin General Election candidate for the Galway West-South Mayo constituency has expressed his surprise and disappointment at the news that the Route Selection Report will be withheld from Public Representatives and the public at large.

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