Search Results for 'Paul Connolly'

A contract has been signed between the Marine Institute and Spanish shipyard Astilleros Armon Vigo S.A. for the construction of Ireland’s new Galway-based state-of-the-art marine research vessel, following the completion of the design of the vessel by Skipsteknisk AS of Norway.

The man who grew the Marine Institute from just one person to now, a staff of more than 200, retired last Saturday after 26 years of service — and when I called out to chat with Dr Peter Heffernan for one last time before he stepped down, I met him at the front door, being helped to load boxes into his car. Twenty six years in one office amasses a lot of material.

Dr Paul Connolly has been appointed as the next Chief Executive Officer of the Marine Institute, Ireland’s state agency for marine research, technology development and innovation. He succeeds Dr Peter Heffernan who retires from the post tomorrow (Friday)

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden visited the Marine Institute headquarters in Oranmore tlast weekend as part of a three-day state visit.

The original purpose of the structure that is the Salmon Weir Bridge was to connect the new County Courthouse with the County Gaol on Nuns Island. Urban folklore has it that they built a tunnel under the river at the time in order to transfer prisoners from one building to the other, but why would they construct a crossing over and under the water at the same time? It does not make sense. The building of the seven span bridge started in 1818 and finished in 1819.

THE PAST year has been something of an annus mirabilis for Galway’s Blue Teapot Theatre Company. Len Collin’s inspired film of the Blue Teapot play Sanctuary was screened in Britain to ecstatic reviews and was later shown by RTÉ. In May, the company staged its ground-breaking production of Dancing At Lughnasa at the Town Hall.

IT HAS been a particularly happy festive period for everyone connected with Galway’s Blue Teapot Theatre Company and its award-winning film Sanctuary, which has been getting rave reviews in Britain.

Connemara Sea Week which runs from October 22 to 30, is a multi-disciplinary festival, celebrating the wonderful marine heritage of Connemara. The festival will celebrate its 33rd birthday later this month, and has grown to be a wonderful and unique event with something to interest all age groups. Highlights include art exhibitions, concerts, talks, walks, children’s activities, and sports events, combined with lots of great music and buckets of fun for all the family. A special highlight for the last few years has been the wonderful ‘After the Light’ parade, a spectacular night full of myth, magic, madness and mayhem.

Summer means blockbuster movies and there is a great line up of entertainment at Mayo Movie World at the minute.

SANCTUARY, the Galway made film, starring actors from Munster Avenue's Blue Teapot Theatre Company, with a screenplay by Galway writer Christian O'Reilly, opens in cinemas tomorrow.