Obama, O’Connell, and Douglass

Thu, May 19, 2011

It is customary on St Patrick’s Day for the US president to speak glowingly of Ireland, invoking the name of the national saint and smiling when handed a bowl of shamrock. However, when President Obama this year made his remarks on St Patrick’s Day, he gave his audience a brief history lesson linking two remarkable men, one Irish and the other African American. The Irishman was Daniel O’Connell (1775-1847), the African American, Frederick Douglass (1818-1895).

O’Connell is one of the giants of Irish history and, together with Parnell, represents one of the two traditions in the movement for Irish independence, the other tradition, of course, being that of Tone, Emmet, the Young Irelanders, and the Easter Rising of 1916.

ME documentary to stroke a chord with local sufferers

Thu, May 19, 2011

A documentary about ME/chronic fatigue, which will be screened in Galway later this month, will strike a chord with local sufferers, according to Orla Ni Chomhrai, the co-ordinator of the Galway ME/CFS support group.

Public lecture on Obama and US foreign policy

Thu, May 19, 2011

In advance of US president Barack Obama’s visit to Ireland, an American academic will deliver a public lecture in Galway entitled Obama: Warlord of the US Empire.

Brian Kelly, originally from the United States, and now a lecturer at Queen’s University, Belfast, will deliver the lecture this Saturday upstairs in Richardson’s, Eyre Square, at 8pm.

Duke Special to play Galway Arts Festival Big Top

Thu, May 19, 2011

Duke Special is heading west this summer to play the Galway Arts Festival Big Top as support to Bell X1 on Saturday July 16.

App nua do Raidió Rí Rá

Thu, May 19, 2011

Tá leagan úr den app chun éisteacht le Raidió Rí Rá ar d’fhón phóca ar fáil anois. Tá na mílte daoine tar éis feidhmhchlár Raidió Rí Rá don iPhone a íoschóipeáil in aisce ó iTunes ó seoladh é ag tús 2010, agus is féidir le héisteoirí éisteacht leis an gcairtstáisiún Gaeilge tríd an iPhone ag am ar anois, leis an app nua seo.

Campaí Samhraidh do pháistí i gContae na Gaillimhe

Thu, May 19, 2011

Tá clár na bliana de Champaí Samhraidh Chonradh na Gaeilge i gContae na Gaillimhe, campaí atá á reáchtáil do dhaoine óga, seolta anois. Beidh campaí samhraidh ar siúl ar fud Chontae na Gaillimhe le linn mhí Iúil agus Lúnasa. Tá méadú ollmhór tagtha ar na campaí seo le dornán blianta anuas de bharr na deise a thugann na campaí do pháistí spraoi agus taitneamh a bheith acu agus iad ag freastal ar champa trí Ghaeilge.

Grealish calls on Healy Eames to save Galway Airport

Thu, May 19, 2011

Independent TD Noel Grealish has thrown down a gauntlet to his constituency rival, Fine Gael Sen Fidelma Healy Eames, calling on her to prevent any threat by the Government to close Galway Airport.

Flag day raises almost €5,000 for Galway Rape Crisis Centre

Thu, May 19, 2011

A recent fundraiser for Galway Rape Crisis Centre raised almost €5,000 for the organisation. The money generated by its flag day will help the centre to continue providing counselling and support services to survivors of sexual violence and abuse in the west of Ireland.

Julie Feeney to feature on new album for royal and US presidential visit

Thu, May 19, 2011

Athenry singer and composer Julie Feeney will be featured on a new compilation album of Irish music as part of the State visits by the British queen and US president.

The album, Music From Ireland 2011, will be presented to the more than 1,000 visitors and key national and international media who will be in Ireland for the visits.

Walsh intervention solves FG Hilde-gate row

Thu, May 19, 2011

The row within Fine Gael over who should become the next mayor was neutered following a weekend intervention by TD Brian Walsh, which has allowed all sides to come away with something.

Fifty Years of US investment celebrated

Thu, May 19, 2011

The President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland, Gerard Kilcommins has called on Ireland to “build on its achievements of the past” and continue strong support for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the west and nationwide, at an event to mark the organisation’s 50th Anniversary which took place in Galway last week.

Naughton demands Dominick Street works be completed in four weeks

Thu, May 19, 2011

The road closure on Dominick Street must be reduced from a six week timeframe to just four so that local businesses are not further inconvenienced than at present.

This is the view of Fine Gael councillor Hildegarde Naughton, who made this call to the Galway City Council following meetings with Dominick Street businesses.

New plans a threat to part time fire fighters and public safety says Walsh

Thu, May 19, 2011

Part time fire fighters must always be in a position to respond quickly to emergencies in cases where full time staff are already out on call, but this ability is currently under threat.

Learn to speak Irish this summer

Thu, May 19, 2011

Conradh na Gaeilge is holding a new series of summer Irish classes to suit beginners, refreshers, and intermediate levels.

Get back in the saddle for Bike Week

Thu, May 19, 2011

The Galway Bike Festival 2011, as part of National Bike Week was launched in Eyre Square, Galway last week by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar. Now in its third year, the Galway Bike Festival promotes cycling for everyone, aims to increase the number of cyclists in Galway and supports a dynamic cycling culture in the city and county.

Claddagh pupils look for more schools to play Olympic handball

Thu, May 19, 2011

Fifth class pupils at Claddagh NS are issuing an appeal to find competitors for their Olympic handball team. According to the children, very few schools are involved in this sport which is described as a cross between basketball and soccer, and they are urging new schools to become involved and, if necessary, they are welcome to practice with Claddagh NS in their court.

Tickets go on sale for Druid’s trip to Inis Meáin

Thu, May 19, 2011

Druid Theatre Company will make its first visit to Inis Meáin in more than six years, when it stages, appropriately, Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan on the island.

Nolan brands IBEC comments as ‘economically illiterate’

Thu, May 19, 2011

The notion that Ireland’s economy will recover by cutting €40 from the wage packets of those earning as little as €346 per week is “immoral” and “economically illiterate”.

NUIG to host abandoned mansions exhibition

Thu, May 19, 2011

NUI Galway’s James Hardiman Library will host renowned photographer Tarquin Blake’s Abandoned Mansions of Ireland exhibition until Friday, June 24.

FG anger at ‘shafting’ of Naughton mayorship could see her win chain

Thu, May 12, 2011

The battle within Fine Gael over who will become the next mayor of Galway city is far from over as party grassroots are set to throw Hildegarde Naughton a lifeline which could see her snatch the chain from Pádraig Conneely at the 11th hour.

Despite reports this week that Cllr Conneely had secured the post for himself at the expense of Cllr Naughton, it has emerged that there is much discontent among members about the situation.

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