Major changes to city electoral wards to be announced next week

Thu, May 23, 2013

Galway city’s three electoral wards are next week due for major revisions ahead of next year’s Local Elections with extra seats for two wards, Galway City East to lose a seat, and Menlo, Castlelawn, and Tirellan to be transferred into Galway City Central.

Don't take away our discretion

Thu, May 23, 2013

In the crazy world that exists after Shattergate and Minggate, we are in danger of losing something very precious. You can take away the house, the job, the fancy cars, our dignity, but please don't take away the one thing we Irish love in great big shovels full — our discretion. What would life be like if we all had to live by the rules? If we had to pay the exact penalty for every misdemeanour we do, if we had to do things exactly as they should be done. If that was to happen, we’d turn into Germans aware that anything we do wrong would be punished exactly as the rule says it should. Or we’d spend our lives making sure others did things the way they should. A regimental regime like that would not be Ireland.

Life sentences handed down to killers of Gort resident

Thu, May 23, 2013

Two men were last evening (Wednesday) found guilty of the murder of a Brazilian man whose body was found in a north Kerry bog.

City assault accused remanded in custody

Thu, May 23, 2013

A man, accused in connection with a serious assault that left another man in hospital, has been refused bail and remanded in custody to appear at Harristown District Court tomorrow.

Bodane man dies in Knockdoe crash

Thu, May 23, 2013

A 24-year-old man lost his life in an early morning collision on the N17 at Knockdoe on Monday.

Ashford Castle hotel and grounds sold for €20 million

Thu, May 23, 2013

The iconic Ashford Castle hotel and resort in Cong, Co Mayo has been sold this week to a United Kingdom based hotelier group for €20 million after a period of receivership.

Red Carnation Hotels, owner of 14 boutique hotels finalised the purchase for less than half the €50 million price originally paid by former owner and Galway businessman Gerry Barrett in 2008.

Work on Bodkin Roundabout to begin in next few weeks

Thu, May 23, 2013

Work on the Bodkin Roundabout at Galway Shopping Centre, a major part of the N6 Multi Model Corridor Improvement Scheme, is set to begin next month with a completion date of early November.

Threadneedle Road right hand turn to be eliminated to free up junction

Thu, May 23, 2013

Some right hand turns at Threadneedle Road junction, described as dangerous and causing major traffic congestion, could be eliminated altogether as part of on-going upgrade works, councillors were told at a recent meeting.

James Charity to stand as Independent county candidate

Thu, May 23, 2013

James Charity has become the first individual to declare he will be a candidate in the May 2014 Local Elections for the Galway County Council.

Family Fun Day and Novelty Dog Show this weekend

Thu, May 23, 2013

Adults, children and much-loved dogs are invited to a Family Fun Day and Dog Show being held at St Finbars club at Southpark in the Claddagh this Sunday (May 26) from 1pm to 5pm. The fun-filled celebration will help raise money and awareness for the GRCC and local dog charity MADRA.

Dog owners are invited to bring along their cherished pooches and can put them through their paces with a novelty dog show, with many categories for children and their dogs too. There will also be plenty of entertainment for all the two-legged members of the family including a bouncy castle, animal activities, kiddies disco, face painting and traditional games like sac races, egg and spoon races, and a parent’s race.

Sinn Fein to hold public meetings on property tax

Thu, May 23, 2013

Galway Sinn Fein are holding a series of public information meetings accross the city in relation to the property tax. The next of these is being held tonight Thursday May 23 at 8pm in the Galway Resource Centre, Westside.

Make your case to be Ireland’s next manager at Eyre Square event?

Thu, May 23, 2013

Galwegians who think they have the ideas and ability to be the next manager of the Republic of Ireland soccer team will have a chance to make a case for themselves in Eyre Square tomorrow.

New system of rates needed to help Galway town centres says Kitt

Thu, May 23, 2013

A new commercial rates system which incentivises new businesses and has an ‘inability to pay’ clause is essential for towns across Galway East like Tuam, Loughrea, and Ballinasloe.

NUI Galway welcomes elite university leaders to city

Thu, May 23, 2013

President Michael D Higgins will address the 2013 Coimbra Group Annual Conference taking place at NUI, Galway this week.

Young Galway woman speaks out about breast cancer awareness

Thu, May 23, 2013

A young Galway woman diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33 spoke out this week on her own experiences with disease and the extortionate prices of essential prohibitive tests for young women like her.

Concern for future of council refuse service as 125 customers per month leave

Thu, May 23, 2013

The future of Galway City Council’s refuse collection service could be at risk - this was the concern expressed by many councillors who called for a public relations campaign to be launched after being informed that 125 customers per month, over the last four months, have been lost to competitors.

Director of services, Ciaran Hayes told councillors at a special meeting of Galway City Council that this year, up to the end of April, there has been a loss of 500 (4.5 per cent) customers who have chosen to leave the council’s service and go to other providers. He added that despite the council introducing a new pricing structure for 2013, whereby no household pays in excess of €229 for the standard three bin system, a competitor has introduced a lower rate.

Public meeting on ash dieback disease

Thu, May 23, 2013

Galway landowners and farmers are being urged to attend a public meeting, organised by the Department of Agriculture and Teagasc, on the effects of the ash dieback disease on forests.

Councillor calls for extra bins for city

Thu, May 23, 2013

Outside of the city centre there is a serious lack of bins, according to Galway city councillor Michael Crowe who is calling for an extra 200 bins to be provided to meet the needs of the people and to fulful the local authorities committment to properly tackle litter.

News Briefs

Thu, May 23, 2013

Shantalla to
re-enact O’Connell’s ‘monster meeting’

re-enact O’Connell’s ‘monster meeting’

Galway city Park ‘n’ Stride launched

Thu, May 23, 2013

The Park ‘n’ Stride initiative was launched this week to deal with the issue of traffic congestion outside city schools.

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