“We could have a huge culture of science and technology here in the west of Ireland”

Thu, Jun 07, 2018

The phrase ‘rising from the ashes’ may be a cliché for some but for Evelyn O’Toole, founder and CEO of trailblazing company Complete Laboratory Solutions (CLS) and 2017’s Entrepreneur of the Year, it literally describes her path to business success. CLS is now the largest privately owned contract laboratory in Ireland with two facilities, one in Rosmuc and the other on the outskirt of Galway city, yet Evelyn only founded the company after losing her first job when her employer’s premises was destroyed by fire.

‘When I do something I do it ‘all or nothing’

Thu, May 31, 2018

From panel beater and mechanic, to a boxer, and now a pole dancer subverting perceptions of what pole dancing is, while at the same time running her own fitness and dance classes, Racheal Palmer is a woman who does not believe boundaries are there to stop her, instead they are challenges to be overcome.

‘Our biggest task at the moment is the environment and technology can help us’

Thu, May 24, 2018

He has been Galway Science Person of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, a recipient of Galway Mayoral Community and Social Award and both the Technology in Schools Award and Technology in the Community Award.

'Everything you go through in life is valuable to a songwriter'

Thu, May 17, 2018

Legendary singer-songwriter Don McLean comes to Galway next month, when he plays Leisureland on Friday June 8 and Saturday 9. More than 50 years since he embarked on a full time career in music, he remains a committed and enthusiastic live performer while 2018 has also seen the release of a new studio album, Botanical Gardens.

'Snooker is now played to a higher standard than in previous eras'

Thu, May 10, 2018

Earlier this week Mark Williams defeated John Higgins 18-16 in the pulsating final of the World Snooker Championship. Watching the tournament and commenting on it for the BBC was one of the all-time snooker greats, Steve Davis, who was World Champion six times during the 1980s.

'Our biggest task at the moment is the environment and technology can help us'

Thu, May 03, 2018

He has been Galway Science Person of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, a recipient of Galway Mayoral Community and Social Award and both the Technology in Schools Award and Technology in the Community Award.

'The lifeboat is part of Galway'

Thu, Apr 26, 2018

Galway’s character is defined by the currents and tides of river and sea and by the constant hum and variety of human activity all along those waters. Among the many ships and vessels, large and small, leisure and commercial, that ply those eddies, surely one of the most important is the RNLI Galway Lifeboat which operates out of its station on New Docks.

'Literature did count for something and the authorities could be frightened of it'

Thu, Apr 19, 2018

Declan Kiberd has long been one of our most lively and illuminating literary critics and next week, at the Cúirt International Festival of Literature, he will discuss his latest book, After Ireland.

'I always try to deal with serious issues with humour'

Thu, Apr 05, 2018

Among the many fine writers coming to Galway for the Cúirt International Festival of Literature is Mexican novelist Juan Pablo Villalobos. The author of three bitingly funny books, Down The Rabbit Hole, Quesadillas, and I’ll Sell You A Dog, he delivers sharply satirical, sometimes surreal, depictions of Mexico’s political and economic instability and inequity, and its crime problems.

KATS turns twenty with Cass Maguire

Thu, Mar 29, 2018

This year Knocknacarra Amateur Theatre Society celebrates its 20th anniversary and will mark that auspicious milestone in April with a staging of Brian Friel’s classic drama, The Loves of Cass Maguire, in the Town Hall Theatre.

KATS turns twenty with Cass Maguire

Thu, Mar 29, 2018

This year Knocknacarra Amateur Theatre Society celebrates its 20th anniversary and will mark that auspicious milestone in April with a staging of Brian Friel’s classic drama, The Loves of Cass Maguire, in the Town Hall Theatre.

Funding commitment for Claregalway roads ‘a step in the right direction’

Thu, Mar 29, 2018

Cllr James Charity has welcomed a commitment from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly the National Roads Authority) to provide pavement funding for the national road through Claregalway village, as well as long awaited safety works at the junction adjacent to McHugh’s pub on the old N17.

Cllr Charity said a commitment to fund the works was made at a meeting with TII in Dublin earlier this month.

A life as colourful as the dolls she makes

Thu, Mar 22, 2018

While most people think of dolls as mass-produced Barbie-type artefacts, the creations of Kinvara based dollmaker Helga Pikal are of an entirely different order. Her hand-made, lovingly crafted, dolls present an array of vividly realised characters from world myth and folklore, as well as famous singers and musicians like Keith Richards and Willie Nelson.

‘I’d like to open the barracks more to the local community’

Thu, Mar 15, 2018

In January of this year, Lieutenant Colonel Caimin Keogh assumed command of An Chéad Cath battalion in Renmore’s Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa Barracks. As a Galway-man Lt Colonel Keogh is immensely proud to lead his home-town battalion, as he told me when I sat down with him in his office on Monday afternoon.

'You wouldn’t believe the stuff people admit to, absolutely disgusting!'

Thu, Mar 08, 2018

The inimitable Russell Brand breezes into Galway next week with his superlative stand-up show, RE:BIRTH, at Leisureland on Wednesday March 14 at 8pm, where he will deals with such all-encompassing questions as 'What is real?' 'Who are we?' and 'Where did this baby come from?'

'Pálás is a cathedral of cinema'

Thu, Mar 01, 2018

At long last it is open! More than a decade after it was first mooted, Galway’s arthouse cinema, Pálás, opened its doors to the public last week and early responses have been very favourable.

'Working for MADRA puts a smile on my face every day'

Thu, Feb 22, 2018

A dog may be man’s best friend but the charity MADRA (Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption) is often a dog’s best friend here in the west of Ireland. Throughout the year MADRA finds new homes for hundreds of unwanted, neglected, abused, and abandoned dogs.

Looking to the future as An Taibhdhearc reaches 90

Thu, Feb 15, 2018

In August this year An Taibhdhearc will celebrate its 90th birthday. There are also changes afoot at the venue at board level and a re-casting of staff structures. Last week Aodh Ó Coileáin was elected chair of An Taibhdhearc and, following his accession, sat down with me to outline his vision for the Irish language theatre.

'People with autism can have a unique vision of the world'

Thu, Feb 08, 2018

Last week, family website MyKidsTime announced that Galway Autism Partnership as the joint winner, with Cork’s Down Syndrome Centre, of its annual Charity of the Year Award. The recognition is a huge morale boost for GAP and provided the perfect backdrop for my interview with it's co-ordinator, Aisling Colreavy.

'There is a coming together between priests and people as the church gets smaller'

Thu, Feb 01, 2018

On Sunday February 11, Bishop Brendan Kelly will be officially installed as the new Bishop of Galway, replacing Bishop Martin Drennan who retired in 2016. For the past 10 years, Bishop Kelly has been at the helm of the Diocese of Achonry, but previously spent many years working in Galway and its environs so his succession to the bishopric is something of a homecoming.

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