Will the legacy of this weekend’s events span seven centuries?

Thu, Feb 06, 2020

To be fair, I can’t blame the folks at St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church for the ridiculously busy news weekend that lies ahead of us here in Galway. There is no doubt that when they finished that wonderful church on that February Sunday in 1320 that they had no idea that exactly seven centuries later, they would be blowing out the 700 candles on a massive cake, at the same time as the drums of Galway being named a European capital were beating out just a few fields away.

Nor would they have known that they would be competing with the sound of thumbs flicking through the counting of 200,000 votes as the city and county played its part in electing our new leaders. If there had been buses through Galway on that day in 1320, indeed at least two of them would have come by at the same time, although then again, the street surfaces were probably better at that time than they are now).

Fantasy Football round 26 preview

Wed, Feb 05, 2020

Another weekend, another round of Premier League football, and another victory for Liverpool. Jürgen Klopp's men are on course to break a number of records including securing the earliest title in the history of the league. Elsewhere champions Man City fell to defeat against Spurs, Leciester and Chelsea battled out to a 2-2 draw, and West Ham blew a two goal lead to draw with Brighton.

First month of decade has been an ugly one

Thu, Jan 30, 2020

It has been an ugly start to the New Year. As the first month draws to a close, we are not filled with the optimism that comes with the unfurling of the daffodil blooms; our hearts are not pumped with the warmth of the setting sun that stays with us just a little longer every day. The spring that should drag us out of the end in the morning is less taut, as the realities of the days ahead and past sit on our chests.

It has been a period where the absolute horrors have been visited upon us with the shocking and brutal deaths of so many young people, caught up in situations not of their own making. The deaths of those small children in Dublin, the horror of Drogheda, the stabbings, the attacks around the country. The seeming futility of truth and consequence in world affairs.

Fantasy Football round 25 preview

Thu, Jan 30, 2020

So the superlatives are starting to run out for Liverpool as they reach the 70 point mark before the end of January. Their 23rd win out of 24 matches was racked up thanks to a 2-0 away success at West Ham. The massive 19 point advantage they have over their rivals leads me to say, this title race is over.

A sense of something stirring

Thu, Jan 23, 2020

When you strip back the feeling that there is a General Election in the ar, when you peel away the veneer of what are merely election promises, when you scrape through the waffle, there really is a sense of something stirring in Galway at the moment. A sort of rumbling.

In the New Year’s Eve issue of the paper, I wrote about the potential of the city to go either way — to become a progressive, sustainable, metropolis. Or to remain as a great place to go on the lash with the lads and lassies. The choice was simple. Progression or pissheads. In the days following that article, I had contact from more than 100 people who said they agreed with the sentiment, that it needed to be said, and that wouldn’t it be great if this actually happened.

Fantasy Football round 24 preview

Mon, Jan 20, 2020

Another game week and another three points for Liverpool. The Reds extended their enormous lead at the top of the Premier League thanks to a 2-0 victory over Man United at Anfield on Sunday. Elsewhere Man City drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace, Newcastle defeated Chelsea with a last minute winner in the northeast, and Norwich gave themselves hope of staying up thanks to a nervy 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Bournemouth in east Anglia.

Galway Neighbourhood looking to lessen impact on planet with reducing single use plastic use!

Fri, Jan 17, 2020

Galways westend launches own plant based reusable bottle!

Time for us to pass judgment on the Ireland that we all want

Thu, Jan 16, 2020

And so it is. Just like the two buses coming along at once, our long awaited General Election comes along on the same day as our long awaited opening of Galway 2020, immediately knocking it off the front pages of the media, diverting it away from the eyes of the nation, like a bridesmaid winning the Euromillions on the day of your wedding. They just had to go and spoil it for us, didn’t they, without even a sideways glance at what else might have been in the diary.

Fantasy Football round 23 preview

Wed, Jan 15, 2020

So we are halfway through January and it looks all over bar the shouting as Liverpool extended their enormous lead at the top to 14 points with a hard fought 1-0 success over Spurs in north London. Elsewhere Watford's great escape continues to gather momentum as they defeated fellow strugglers Bournemouth 3-0 on Sunday to climb at of the relegation zone for the first time this season; Man City annihilated Aston Villa 6-1; and Southampton exacted revenge for their 9-0 hammering in October, inflicting a 2-1 defeat on Leicester to all but kill off The Foxes' faint title hopes.

Just waiting for that grand stretch in the evening

Thu, Jan 09, 2020

There is, I’m telling ya. I felt it in me waters. Just a small one mind ya, not anything outrageous. But it’s there nonetheless, that stretch in the evening. Ok, it’s not so grand yet, but there’s definitely a minute or so more of sunset now than we had last week, and ‘twas so dark the other morning, I didn’t know where I was going to work or coming from work.

We’re mad waiting for the grand stretch in the evening because it makes life so much easier. The arrival of the stretch in the evening is a Godsend to those of of us who find it hard to make conversation. For those awkward moments when you’re stuck in the lift in Roches, or find yourself queueing for your sandwich beside a complete stranger who you might never have seen before — that kind of complete stranger. At times like that, it is always great to be able to share some discourse on the state of the stretch in the evening.

Fantasy Football round 22 preview

Wed, Jan 08, 2020

Did you enjoy the week off? Yes after seven and half game weeks inside a month, last weekend's FA Cup action was a welcome break for Fantasy managers.

Galway can’t waste another decade of indecision

Thu, Jan 02, 2020

Galway is great craic. Mighty craic. You can depend on Galway to give you what you want. A mighty place to go for the weekend. With the lads, and the girls. Jaysis, a place we can eat and drink and dance all night... And eat chips, clip clopping over the pebble stones or the medieval tarmac that lines the streets of our city and stagger back to the Airbnb sated. Galway is like that friend we all have who is always laughing and smiling. Even when he shouldn’t. The one you never take seriously because he is always smiling and laughing and having the craic.

But is this all we want Galway to be? In 100 years time, do we want Galway to have had a century of just being that sort of place, where the attraction of hen parties and stag parties is our core objective? Is that all we can achieve with the enormous potential of the place laid out before our eyes; a town which sits on the lip of the Atlantic, on the edge of Europe, with its face washed by the spray of the bay. Its attraction built on its possibilities rather than its realities.

Fantasy Football round 21 preview

Tue, Dec 31, 2019

The final whistle at the Etihad Stadium also brought the conclusion of December which means it is time to the name the Advertiser Tribal League's Manager of the Month in association with Monroe's Tavern.

Look after the little things this Christmas

Thu, Dec 26, 2019

Look after the little things in life. Because one day the time will come when you realise they are the big things.

And there is no better time to find this out than at this time of the year. In the days leading up to Christmas, it is easy to be consumed by the enormity of it all; pushing ourselves through heartache and stress, and losing the familial feel of togetherness Christmas once had, when there was nothing else or nowhere else to go to.

Fantasy Football round 18 preview

Wed, Dec 18, 2019

The football just keeps coming and coming. Round 17 produced another humiliating defeat for Arsenal as they were gunned down by the brilliance of Man City's Kevin De Bruyne. Liverpool increased their advantage at the top of the table thanks to a 2-0 home victory over bottom placed Watford and a slip-up by second place Leicester. Chelsea lost at home to Bournemouth and Spurs moved within four points of the Champions League spots.

Pallas Karting Christmas gift voucher - the Christmas present of 2019!

Tue, Dec 17, 2019

'Oh the weather outside is frightful', crooned Dean Martin and while the song is aimed at the prevailing conditions outside, the stanza could easily be applicable to the frightfulness of the throngs of stressed out shoppers looking for that perfect gift for their loved one.

Let this be their last winter there

Thu, Dec 12, 2019

(I)
1925

1925

Fantasy Football round 17 preview

Thu, Dec 12, 2019

Game week 16 concluded at the London Stadium where Arsenal secured three precious points in a 3-1 win over the hapless Hammers. It was a huge victory for Freddie Ljungberg's men who had gone nine matches without a success; the club's worst run of form for 42 years. Elsewhere Liverpool and Leicester won again, Man United defeated City in the derby, and Duncan Ferguson inspired Everton to overcome Chelsea 3-1 at Goodison Park to take The Toffees out of the relegation zone.

Fantasy Football round 16 preview

Fri, Dec 06, 2019

Round 15 was considered an historic round of football as for the first time the Premier League would be streamed into the homes of fans thanks to Amazon Prime Video. That was the case of course if you were a football fan watching in the UK. Those watching on in Ireland had to contend with Premier Sports, a channel to which one can only subscribe by purchasing another channel - and they say football is for supporters?

Get unique hand-crafted gifts from the Ceardlann Craft Village this Christmas!

Thu, Dec 05, 2019

If you’re looking for something unique, hand-crafted & local to give this Christmas, look no further than the Ceardlann Craft Village in Spiddal. Only 20 minutes from Galway city on the shores of the Wild Atlantic Way, the Ceardlann is a one stop shop for your Christmas gifts. Featuring over 10 different artists and an award-winning Café- there truly is something for everyone at the Ceardlann Craft Village.

E-paper

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