Galway City Central is not a foregone conclusion

Thu, Apr 02, 2009

This week, Insider is going to take a look at the number of first preference votes received in 2004 by candidates in the old West Ward and potentially what the outcome may be in the new Galway City Central ward in June for the sitting councillors, repeat candidates, and new candidates.

Firstly, from an electorate of 11,500, Insider believes that 55 per cent will turn out to vote. If this is the case, 6,325 people will be deciding who will represent them in City Hall.

Labour’s red rose set to bloom

Thu, Apr 02, 2009

Last weekend’s national Labour Party conference in Mullingar set out its platform for the forthcoming elections.

The art of Fianna Fáil-ure

Thu, Apr 02, 2009

Conor Casby’s nude portraits of Brian Cowen, which have been causing a sensation these last few days, reminded me of a story I once heard about Brendan Behan.

Josette leads Labour’s new charge in the county

Thu, Apr 02, 2009

Right now and heading into June’s Local Elections is a good time to be a candidate for The Labour Party. Labour could take four - perhaps if lucky five - seats in the Galway City Council, but can it do the same in the county?

The party has only one county councillor - Colm Keaveney - and Labour knows that it has an uphill battle to secure more seats in areas that have traditionally been barren ground.

Is Fianna Fáil out to get Josie Conneely?

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

What is Fianna Fáil doing in Connemara? The fortress of Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív is grinding slowly, very slowly, to making a decision regarding the team that will contest the Local Elections on June 5.

Budget choices will determine our future

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

After the justified hoopla from Ireland’s rugby grand slam and Bernard Dunne’s boxing heroics, all eyes will be focused on the forthcoming Budget on April 7.

Four cabinet meetings are to be held to grapple with the gaping hole in our public finances. The three previous attempts to shore up the fiscal deficit have failed.

A ‘burst’ Fianna Fáil

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

“Before we go any further let’s have the split”. It’s a phenomenon the used to plague Sinn Féin until recently, but it looks like it might happen in that other Republican party Fianna Fáil - or at least its Galway city branch.

Sixth candidate enters EU North West race

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

A new Independent Donegal based candidate, Fiachra Ó Luain, has entered the race to win an EU seat for the three seat North West constituency in June’s European Elections.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

Could it be that the political resurrection of Val Hanley is almost complete? That in its hour of need Fianna Fáil are looking to him to help win back a seat in Galway City West?

HSE says Mayor’s A&E ‘hellhole’ allegation is untrue

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

The HSE West has rejected an allegation by City Mayor Padraig Conneely that University Hospital Galway’s A&E department is a “ hellhole”.

The local health authority said his comment was “untrue” and “showed little respect for hospital staff working to provide a quality service in difficult circumstances”.

Cannon says he made party change in time for locals

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

Sen Ciaran Cannon has said he brought forward his decision to join Fine Gael in order to support Cllr Mogie Maher and other local representatives in the run-up to the Local Elections.

When closure is just the beginning...

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

And now it’s over. When they turn the key and step in, the house seems emptier. It was quiet before they left for Ireland, but now, if it was at all possible, it seems to have lost even more of its heartbeat. The clock ticks in the background — its tick hitting a false note of optimism, its tock emphasising the silence. They look at the door, and sob inside and wish that for just one more time, it would swing open and their bouncy happy daughter would come back in through it. Closure is sometimes seen as the end of a journey, but often it is just a mythical void. The pain in their chests that comes with every waking moment of the horrific realisation has not abated, as they thought it might. Now, alone together for the first time in weeks, they realise that often closure is the beginning of the journey and not an imagined end. Now, the hard work begins. The bit where the desire for justice has left them unfulfilled, the hole in their hearts just too large.

HSE and INO urged to resolve ongoing dispute at Portiuncula Hospital

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

Concerned councillors urged both sides to get together to try to resolve the ongoing dispute involving five nurse managers at Portiuncula Hospital which has reached “crisis” point.

Ex-taxi driver fined for theft of trailer

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

An ex-taxi driver who stole a trailer from its owner’s driveway in the middle of the night was fined €750 at Galway District Court last Monday.

Councillors condemn decision to centralise medical card processing in Dublin

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

Angry councillors lashed out this week at the decision to centralise the processing of medical cards in Dublin and called for its immediate reversal.

Members of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum West, which met this week at Merlin Park Hospital, said removing the service from Galway was an affront to the integrity of the local community welfare officers who previously operated it.

Three big birthdays at Merlin Park next week

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

The Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust will celebrate three very special birthdays at Merlin Park Hospital this weekend.

Man threatens to kill garda when he gets out, court hears

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

A Galway man who threatened to kill a garda when he got out of jail has been remanded in custody to appear at Harristown District Court tommorrow.

GMIT hotel school to host open evening

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

The Hotel School at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) is holding an open evening next Tuesday, March 31, for school leavers and anyone interested in a career in the hospitality, retail, and tourism industry.

Two out of control’ women warned to behave or face jail

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

Two women who were “totally out of control” abusing staff and gardai at a city centre pub after being directed to leave the premises have been warned that if they appear in court again they will end up in jail.

‘Roadmap’ is crucial for Galway’s future development says Fahey

Thu, Mar 26, 2009

A ‘roadmap’ outlining what Galway should look like in 2030 is “crucial” if Galway is to become “Europe’s most attractive waterfront city” over the next 20 years, according to Galway West TD Frank Fahey.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.