Gort psychotherapist bringing hope to forgotten prisoners

Thu, Feb 16, 2017

Togo is a small country about the size of Ireland. It is one of the poorest countries in the world and has been ruled by the same family for almost 50 years. The justice system is severely under-resourced and the prison system a direct reflection of that. The Central Prison of Lome was built for 600 people. It currently holds over 2,000. Each cell, roughly the size of your average Irish kitchen, holds about 80 people. To sleep only some prisoners get to lie down, side by side like in a sardine can. For this privilege you pay. The rest have to sit around the edge of the room or stand. There is one toilet and shower (ie bucket) per cell. Prisoners are served one meal a day. On average prisoners wait 3-4 years to receive their sentence. Legal representation is mostly absent. Aggression, violence, rape, abuse, bullying and intimidation are the norm. One man described inside as being like a war zone.

Low self esteem makes women more vulnerable to abusive relationships

Thu, Feb 16, 2017

Low self esteem and a lack of information are important indicators of vulnerability to abuse in relationships, according to the latest research on the subject.

A local study reveals that women who have experienced domestic violence say that receiving information on dating abuse as teenagers could have helped them to recognise the early signs of an abusive relationship.

Ó Clochartaigh demands investigation over alleged Affordable Social Housing Scheme ‘irregularities’

Thu, Feb 16, 2017

Housing Minister Simon Coveney is being asked to investigate allegations of abuses of the Affordable Social Housing scheme.

advertiser In brief...

Thu, Feb 16, 2017

Gardai warn against bogus callers
Gardai would like to make people aware that there have been several incidents recently of a person calling to houses impersonating a member of An Garda Siochana.

Emily Anderson Concert Hall to be named at ceremony next week

Thu, Feb 16, 2017

A ceremony to mark the official naming of the Emily Anderson Concert Hall will take place in the Aula Maxima Upper at NUI Galway on Thursday, 23 February 2017. Emily Anderson was NUI Galway’s first Professor of German and to this day is internationally recognised for her achievements in translating the letters of Mozart and Beethoven into English and in so doing offering invaluable insights into their work. She is also distinguished for her intelligence work with the British Government during World War II.

Professor Anne Scott, Vice President for Equality and Diversity at NUI Galway said in advance of the ceremony that the college is delighted to honour Emily Anderson, one of its most eminent female alumni, in this visible and tangible way.

Greenway group hopes to progress project

Thu, Feb 16, 2017

Galway Greenway Group is a consortium of business owners, hoteliers, landowners, families, and individuals who want to see the completion of the Connemara Greenway from Galway City to Clifden. The project has been dogged by objections in the last few years and the discussion up to now has been increasingly negative for various reasons.

City rugby sides continue to struggle

Thu, Feb 16, 2017

There was no luck for Galway's Ulster Bank League rugby teams at the weekend, with Galwegians pipped by Ballymena 14-13, and Corinthians falling to Nenagh 34-18.

In division 1B Galwegians suffered yet another frustrating defeat when for the second time this season they lost out to old rivals Ballymena by a solitary point.

Galway basketball teams face crucial league fixtures

Thu, Feb 16, 2017

With the clock ticking down to the end of the regular season, the pressure is now on Galway basketball teams to try to move up their respective league tables.

City council supports staffless libraries on trial basis

Thu, Feb 16, 2017

The Galway City Council has recommended the introduction of the new ‘Open Library’ system on a trial basis in the city’s libraries.

Free information evening on sexual health for LGBT+ community

Thu, Feb 16, 2017

A free information evening on sexual health will take place in the Teach Solais LGBT+ Resource Centre, on Merchants Road, and is open to all members of the LGBT+ community, family, and friends.

Galway to welcome home Altantic rowing hero Gavan this weekend

Thu, Feb 16, 2017

Galway will officially welcome home world recorder holder for a solo Atlantic row Gavan Hennigan, this Sunday at the Salthill Hotel from 12 noon to 2pm.

Gossip played a role in the week’s revelations

Thu, Feb 16, 2017

Gossip is what no one claims to like, but everybody enjoys. It is the lifeblood of every conversation. There is nothing juicier than the prospect of being told gossip that you can then trade for some more at a later stage. Gossip is the unedited bit of conversation.

Condemn gossip all you like, but there are few of us who would turn away from it, who would refuse to listen. There is a national appetite for hearing the scéal about yer man and all the money he stole and how what really happened was that his wife ran off with his brother and sure where would they leave it, and wasn’t the father as bad as them, hop up on anything passing so he would, sure isn’ that why he lost the job below, for taking the money, and then the drinking and the (makes a snort impression), the drugs like, sure they say he was high most of the time.

Automatic disqualification for drink drivers

Wed, Feb 15, 2017

Cabinet approves legislation brought forward by Minister Shane Ross to ensure that all drivers detected of drink driving receive a disqualification

Defibrillator Makes Business Sense and Helps Save Lives

Wed, Feb 15, 2017

The Skeff Late Bar & Kitchen on Galway’s Eyre Square has launched the city’s very first 24/7 defibrillator service.

Galway rent increases labelled 'daft' and 'scandalous'

Tue, Feb 14, 2017

Rents in Galway have jumped by almost 11 per cent in the county and 10 per cent in the city in the last year, according to the latest Daft.ie rental report, leading a Galway senator to demand Government intervention on the issue.

Vigil to take place outside UHG this week

Tue, Feb 14, 2017

A vigil is to be held outside UHG this Thursday to protest against cutbacks to and the crisis within the health service. The vigil is part of a series that will be taking place across the State, led by The Still Waiting Campaign.

Major funds allocated to Town Hall and city museum

Mon, Feb 13, 2017

Funding of almost €300,000 is to be granted to two of Galway's premier arts and cultural facilities - the Galway City Museum and the Town Hall Theatre under the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs' Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016 - 2018.

Free information evening on sexual health for LGBT+ community

Mon, Feb 13, 2017

A free information evening on sexual health will take place in the Teach Solais LGBT+ Resource Centre, on Merchants Road, this week, and is open to all members of the LGBT+ community, family, and friends.

Hard Brexit and drink laws could devastate local hospitality sector, says study

Thu, Feb 09, 2017

The combination of a hard Brexit and the Public Health Alcohol Bill pose a major threat to Galway’s economy, according to a report by agri-economist Ciaran Fitzgerald on behalf of the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI).

Protest against worsening accommodation crisis to take place at City Hall on Monday night

Thu, Feb 09, 2017

A protest against the rise in the number of people sleeping rough in Galway, and the continuing problem of housing and accommodation, will take place outside City Hall on Monday February 13 at 3.30pm.

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