A prayer for the Ironmen...

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

O come ye Ironmen and Ironwomen, let your sinewy legs find cushions on the hard concrete of our town, may your sturdy shoulders feel the welcome of the waves in our water as they drift you towards the shore, may our roads eat up the rotations of your cycles as your thighs pound at the pedals and propel you faster and faster, the western wind in your faces arcing around to gently push you towards your finishing line. May the pounding of your heart as it pumps the pistons of your body act like a gentle staccato soundtrack in the movie of your feat. May the isotonic blood flow through your veins pushing your skin as your body stretches into its fullness and makes you feel invincible. May the thoughts of failure appear as if bubbles, popping and dissipating in your line of vision, as you drive yourself on. May the hard disk drives of your mind become sponges to absorb all that is around you. May you hear every word of encouragement as being for yourself alone, may every barking dog be a mentor, ruff-ruffing out a message of goodwill. May every cat on a wall appear like a cheetah daring you to go faster, faster. May every face in the crowd be bearing a smile and a wink and a glad-eye. May every shallow puddle on the road be a cooling oasis to splash your ankles, may your hamstrings become lithe like an accordion in the hands of Sharon Shannon. May the sweat dripping off your brow be a sort of mead from the Gods to power you on. May you fill your lungs with all that is Galwayness and let that soak through your being. May the aches and pains of each day’s competition be worn by you like a medal, a souvenir of your effort, an appreciation to the being that allows you to partake in this endurance event...may you take a short moment to be thankful that you can and share a small thought for those who would love to but cannot for reasons of fitness, infirmity, ability and age. May your time among us be one of wonderment and satisfaction...may every piece of morsel that passes your lips detonate your taste buds and may every soothing drink spread its coolness throughout you. May you enjoy Galway and all that it offers you and your fellow competitors. May your families and supporters take great enjoyment and pride from your achievement and when it is all over and when the warm shower is washing away the sweat and effort of the day’s endurance, may you be happy and may you plan to come back again and do it all again next year. Welcome to Galway, Ironmen and Ironwomen. Enjoy yourselves.

Boost for Tuam with expansion of Valeo facility

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

The full support of the Government will be given to Valeo to further grow operations in Ireland, vowed Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation, John Perry, who was in Tuam this week for the official opening of Valeo Vision System’s expanded facility.

University Road taxi spaces to become loading bays

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

Taxi spaces which were not being used at the upper end of University Road/Newcastle Road junction are being turned into a loading bay for the local Tesco store.

Mayor lashes city council officials and gardai for not addressing traffic crisis

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

City Hall and the gardaí need to focus on what can be achieved instead of what cannot be done in dealing with the serious problem of traffic congestion in Galway.

Funeral takes place for Laois man who died after car dealership accident

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

A Laois man, who tragically died after being crushed while loading cars at a city car dealership, was laid to rest this week.

Paddy Byrne (48) from The Green, Stradbally, lost his life after receiving significant chest injuries while two cars were being loaded on to a truck outside Windsor Motors on the Monivea Road last week. Grieving family and friends attended a funeral service at The Sacred Heart Church in Stradbally on Tuesday which was followed by burial at Oakdale churchyard.

New hospital consultants will help hospitals develop additional clinical services

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

The appointment of three new consultants at Galway University Hospitals will help the facilities develop additional clinical services, the clinical director of the Galway/ Roscommon Hospital Group Dr David O’Keeffe said this week.

City shop owner will miss ‘friendships and the fun’ when Marian’s closes next month

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

When Katherine McGee began working with the British luxury fashion brand Burberry in the United States she quickly realised that her heart lay in fashion retail.

Enterprising gaming thief remanded on bail and curfewed

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

A Ballybane teenager who stole games console equipment from one shop before cheekily attempting to sell it on to another games shop where he also helped himself to a further €180 worth of gaming equipment has been granted bail with strict conditions.

Eighteen-year-old Matthew Dunne with an address at 35 Sliabh Rua, Ballybane, was brought before Galway District Court on Tuesday charged with stealing a remote control for the Nintendo Wii, valued at €42.99, from Game, Eglinton Street, stealing a Nintendo DSI XL yellow, valued at €180, from Game Stop, Corbett Court Shopping Centre, and dishonestly by deception inducing a staff member at the Game Stop store to trade in a remote control for Nintendo Wii which was not his property with the intention of making gain on July 25, 2011, contrary to Section 4 and 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud) Act.

Pulsar discoveries by NUI Galway astronomers

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

Astronomers from NUI Galway’s Centre for Astronomy have made an important breakthrough in the understanding of how pulsars work, and have recently published their findings in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Chronicler Tim Robinson to be honoured with series of events in city and Connemara

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

Tim Robinson, the internationally acclaimed writer, map-maker and thinker, based in Roundstone, will this month launch his new book and be celebrated with a series of events in NUI, Galway.

Lackagh Graveyard vandals must ‘face full rigours of the law’ says Grealish

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

The recent vandalism and robbery at Lackagh cemetery is “the lowest type of crime” and the perpetrators must be caught and face the full rigours of the law.

Galway woman to undertake marathon cycle for rugby charity

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

Galway performance psychologist Marguerite Tonery is to undertake a marathon 1,000km cycle in New Zealand in order to raise funds for the IRFU Charitable Trust.

The cycle will take place on the South Island between September 19 and October 1. The IRFU Charitable Trust supports seriously injured rugby players who have suffered spinal injury leaving them paralysed and often in need of round the clock care.

HSE must take swift action against consultants who broke agreements, urges Labour TD

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

A local TD is urging the HSE West to take swift action against the 70 hospital consultants - some of whom work at Galway University Hospitals - who were found to be in breach of their contractual agreements.

East Galway Labour TD Colm Keaveney wants the health authority to ensure these “highly paid” doctors pay back the money they owe.

Delegation to see if Galway can become a major cruise port

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

A high-power delegation of world tourism chiefs and cruise-line operators will visit Galway next month with a view to establishing the city as a major destination port.

The thrill of the hunt for a student house

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

We are at a time of the year when another batch of teenagers is ready to become worldly-wise. It’s time for many eager youths to move out of the family home for the first time. They are making plans and gathering things from their rooms. Young men and women making lists, leaves falling off the trees, and landlords second-coating and double-glazing.

The French connection: A queen’s portrait

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

Patrick French of Drumharsna Castle, near the village of Kiltartan, died in 1748. His widow, Catherine, was still living in 1768, and was named by her son Henry, who died unmarried, as one of his executors. In his will, dated January 24, 1767, Henry French of Drumharsna left

"… to my mother all my real and personal estate for life, subject as to my personal estate as to the legacies hereafter specified, with remainder as to my real estate to my nephew, Henry French Barrington, and the heirs of his body, with remainder to the heirs of James French of Duras [Henry’s uncle]. I leave to Charles McDonnell, of New Hall, Co Clare, my four paintings: the portrait of my great grandfather, Sir Donough O'Brien, that of my grandfather, Henry O'Brien, and my grandmother, Susanna O'Brien, and the portrait of a lady by Sir Godfrey Kneller [my italics], to be put up in his house. I leave to Captain Edward O'Brien, 3rd son of Sir Edward O'Brien, my case of pistols, silver mounted, as they never belonged to any one but a soldier. I appoint my mother, my nephew, Henry French Barrington, and the said Charles McDonnell, executors."

Waiting times will be reduced says Nolan

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

A decision to move some non-critical functions from University Hospital Galway to other hospitals in the region this month will free up beds in wards at the city hospital and help reduce waiting times and overcrowding at its emergency department.

Traffic gridlock shows bypass ‘needed more than ever’ says Walsh

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

The need for the Galway City Outer Bypass is greater than ever, especially after last week’s traffic gridlock when the city witnessed some of the longest commuter delays in living memory.

Golfing tourism can help boost the economy says Higgins

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

Promoting the west of Ireland as a leading European golfing destination can play an important part in the State’s economy, according to Labour senator Lorraine Higgins.

Misterman to be staged in New York

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

Misterman, the hit play of this years Galway Arts Festival and one of the finest pieces of theatre ever staged in the city, will receive its American premiere in New York later this year.

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