'If you come to Merlin Woods once you’ll want to come all the time'

Thu, May 11, 2017

"There is joy in the woods just now/The leaves are whispers of song/And the birds make mirth on the bough/And music the whole day long." On these balmy May days, Merlin Woods certainly live up to those lines by poet Claude McKay.

Free public psychology talks at NUI Galway

Thu, May 11, 2017

People can learn why young people join terrorist organisations, what causes sleep paralysis, and how to recognise when children are in pain, at a series of free public psychology talks being held at NUI Galway on Saturday.

Crisis in Connemara dental services must be addressed, says senator

Thu, May 11, 2017

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh has said the crisis in the provision of community dental services in Connemara is much worse than previously envisaged.

Galway’s new tribe to be announced next week

Thu, May 11, 2017

Next Monday night (May 15) Aire Stáit Seán Kyne TD sa Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta will announce the Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh category winners and the overall winner for 2017. Twelve Galway businesses on the Gradam Gearrliosta, are very busy preparing for the special awards ceremony taking place at 6.30pm in the Salthill Hotel. This event has become an important feature in the Galway calendar and this year, it will mark the pinnacle of Gaillimh le Gaeilge’s celebrations of 30 years in business.

€15m upgrade of Shannon Airport runway commences

Thu, May 11, 2017

Shannon Airport has today announced the commencement of a €15 million, 100 job project to upgrade the airport’s runway, the longest runway in Ireland at 3,199 metres (almost two miles). It means that construction will take place during specified overnight hours so as to avoid disruption to flights and to nearly residents.

Dublin based specialist in this area, Lagan Asphalt Group, with offices in Tulla in County Clare, has been appointed by the airport to undertake the project. The appointment follows their successful bid under an EU tender process.

Brooklyn goes all Galway as Arlington opens to rave reviews

Thu, May 11, 2017

Arlington, co-produced with Landmark Productions, opened at St.Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn last Sunday to a fantastic reception. Guests in attendance at the opening performances included author John Grisham, actors Nick Sandow from Orange is the New Black, Paul Reid and Lisa Dwan; Irish artist John Gerrard who exhibits during the Festival and whose new solo show opened at the Simon Preston Gallery in New York; pianist John O’Conor who flew to New York to support his son Hugh in Arlington; poet Paul Muldoon and Consul General of Ireland Barbara Jones as well as many of New York’s artistic community including Joe Mellilo from the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and composers Mikel Rouse and Philip Glass, Arlington runs in New York until May 28.

All eyes and ears on Specsavers Eyre Square Shopping Centre

Thu, May 11, 2017

Specsavers Eyre Square Shopping Centre first opened its doors in 1991 and since then store director Noel Meehan, along with a team of experienced opticians, audiologists and highly trained customer service staff have proudly served the local community.

Get your paws on the prom for the MADRA Dogathon

Thu, May 11, 2017

One of the highlights of the MADRA calendar, the annual MADRA Dogathon, will take place this Sunday May 14 at 1pm.

The Dogathon event is a well-known meeting of mutts which last year raised €10,000 for dogs in need. A MADRA spokesperson said, “With an average of 60 dogs coming into the kennels each month, the Dogathon is a really important event for us. It not only raises awareness of what we do but also brings in much needed funds for the charity.

PwC to sponsor Ocean Wealth Summit during SeaFest

Thu, May 11, 2017

PwC, Ireland’s largest professional services firm, has announced a new three year headline sponsorship of the ‘Our Ocean WealthSummit’, the largest national gathering of Ireland’s marine and business communities, held annually as part of SeaFest. This year, the Summit will take place in the National University of Ireland, Galway, on June 30.

Now in its fourth year, the ‘Our Ocean Wealth Summit’ forms a key part of the Government’s integrated plan for Ireland’s marine sector, Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth, and will bring together world renowned speakers, industry experts, business development agencies and the Irish business and marine research community for focused discussions on this year’s theme of ‘Rethinking Boundaries and Innovation for a Sustainable Marine Economy’.

Fabulous pre-Races fashion event at Oranmore Lodge Hotel

Thu, May 11, 2017

A pre-Ladies Day event to be held on Sunday week just cannot be missed by those wishing to make an impression at Ballybrit this year. And the event will benefit the Oranmore Maree Coastal Search Unit.

Galway Community Pride festival fundraiser to be held next week

Thu, May 11, 2017

AHEAD OF August’s Galway Community Pride celebrations, a bingo fundraiser, with cash prizes, music, and entertainment, will take place in Nova, the West End, on Wednesday May 17.

FF comeback continues as survey shows no local recovery for Labour

Thu, May 11, 2017

A survey conducted by Ipsos/MRBI for the Galway Advertiser in County Galway, including Galway city, shows the Labour party struggling to recover from its disappointing showing in the 2016 General Election. The survey was conducted in late March and early April 2017.

Along with the normal caveats that apply to all political surveys, an additional one here is that this survey was conducted among a sample of 300 people living in Galway city and county, and was not targeted at any specific constituency.

advertiser In brief...

Thu, May 11, 2017

Tool thieves sought by gardai
Gardai in the city are investigating the theft of tools last week.

Gardai in the city are investigating the theft of tools last week.

Almost 440 Galway farmers still waiting for 2016 payments, says TD

Thu, May 11, 2017

Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy has hit out at Minister Michael Creed for failing to meet his own targets of having all 2016 GLAS payments made by the end of April. Deputy Murphy said that the latest figures obtained by Fianna Fáil through a parliamentary question revealed that nationally there are more than 3,000 farmers still waiting on their 2016 GLAS payments to be made.

Sellout as Inis Mor to host Cliff Diving World Series again

Thu, May 11, 2017

Tickets for the return of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series to Inis Mor have sold out in just two weeks.

100 Men Who Give A Damn make a difference to Galway Autism Partnership

Thu, May 11, 2017

Galway organisation, 100 Men Who Give A Damn has been described as ‘Dragon’s Den’ for charities by providing funding opportunities for specific charity projects. Every quarter, the organisation’s members invite three local charities to deliver a five-minute pitch on why their charity needs funds. The winning charity receives €100 from each member, potentially receiving up to €10,000.

Older people in Galway urged to contact Citizens’ Assembly

Thu, May 11, 2017

Age Action, Ireland’s leading advocacy organisation for older people, has urged people in Galway to make submissions to the Citizens’ Assembly, which will now consider t he challenges and opportunities of an ageing population.

The Assembly was set up by the Government to look at a range of issues including the eighth amendment to the Constitution, fixed term parliaments, referendums, climate change and planning for an ageing population.

Forest fires have injected massive amounts of smoke pollution into Galway air

Thu, May 11, 2017

Over the last few days, emergency services continue to battle the blazing gorse fire in the Cloosh Valley, Connemara area of County Galway. Apart from the obvious devastating effect on wildlife and the damage to tree crops, the forest fires are causing a major air pollution episode in the area. In recent days, the wind diverted the pollution plume away from the most populated areas, however, at around 4pm on Tuesday evening, a change in wind direction engulfed the city in smoke pollution for a few hours.