advertiser In brief..

Thu, Feb 09, 2017

Gardaí seek witnesses to December assault
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to an assault that occurred in the city centre last December to come forward.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to an assault that occurred in the city centre last December to come forward.

Westside halting site a ‘knee jerk reaction’ to Traveller accommodation crisis, Cubbard warns

Thu, Feb 09, 2017

Cllr Mike Cubbard has said he will not support plans to install a temporary halting site on a site owned by Galway City Council in Westside if this comes before the Galway City Council later this month.

Galway Pride Festival to become 10 day event

Mon, Feb 06, 2017

GALWAY'S ANNUAL gay pride festival will go on for three extra days with year, with organisers announcing that the festival, now in its 28th year, is to expand from a seven to 10-day event during August.

Galway volunteers arm refugees with coding skills for a better future

Sun, Feb 05, 2017

The biggest humanitarian crisis since the aftermath of World War Two has led to an exodus of five million people from Syria since 2012. In an effort to help refugees living within the Middle East, a small number of individuals from Galway in February 2016 became part of an ambitious digital learning programme designed to bring computer coding skills to thousands of children, teenagers and teachers living in camps and districts across the region. Known as Refugee Code Week (RCW) the initiative, led by the German software corporation SAP in partnership with the United Nations Refugee Agency(UNHCR) and the Galway Education Centre, has developed course content and provided teams of IT volunteers from across three continents to upskill teachers from Syria and other Middle Eastern countries in delivering coding programmes to young refugees and the youth of host nations from eight years to twenty years of age. The Galway volunteers taking part in the programme are Bernard Kirk, director of the Galway Education Centre and co-founder of RCW, Nuala Allen (SAP in Parkmore), Niall McCormick (Colmac Robotics) and Brendan Smith (NUI Galway). BRENDAN SMITH, who has through his Outreach projects at the university since 2004 worked with asylum seekers in Ireland, was seconded from the Insight Centre for Data Analytics at NUI Galway to become a master instructor in RCW as well as in a sister programme, namely the highly successful Africa Code Week that has been operating since June 2015. Here is his story.

100 Men Who Give A Damn have raised €19,000 for local charities

Fri, Feb 03, 2017

Galway organisation, 100 Men Who Give A Damn, has been described as the ‘Dragon’s Den’ for charities by providing funding opportunities for specific 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.

It’s not rocket science to solve Oranmore congestion, says Naughton

Fri, Feb 03, 2017

Immediate action is required to address traffic congestion and safety concerns in Oranmore, according to local Fine Gael TD Hildegarde Naughton.

The traffic management plan for the town has been the subject of criticism, with motorists, cyclists and pedestrians all raising concerns over traffic flow on the main thoroughfare.

Calasanctius College swim team win nine medals at Connacht Secondary Schools Swim Finals

Fri, Feb 03, 2017

The Calasanctius College swim team certainly made a splash at the recent Connacht Secondary School swim finals, bringing home an impressive half of nine medals with many swimmers qualifying for the inter-pro event to be held in Dublin in two month’s time.

Gavan Hennigan’s record-breaking row sees him cross line in Antigua

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

The Irish tricolour and the Galway and Connacht flags were due to be flown in Antigua early this morning as Galwayman Gavan Hennigan completed his mammoth Atlantic row, smashing existing Irish and international rowing records.

10 Years walking for Ability West

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

The annual 5 mile Menlo walk in aid of Ability West is celebrating ten years and the community walk is looking to raise a bumper €10,000 to mark the occasion. The walk will take place on Sunday 12th February. The walk will start at 12 noon from Scoil Bhride Menlo, Galway City.

People seeking emergency accommodation in Galway rises by 15 per cent

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

People seeking emergency accommodation in Galway rose by 15 per cent towards the end of last year, while 84 per cent of properties available to rent in Galway city are priced beyond the reach of citizens relying on State housing payments.

He bangs the drums

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

He is only 25, and already he has recorded five albums and two EPs, with five different bands; established himself as one of the busiest and hardest working musicians in Galway city; and in the last 12 months set up his own business, creating customised drumkits.

Parkmore traffic chaos and the need for wider planning reform in Galway

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

Insider recalls a recent decision of An Bord Pleanala, where it reversed the Galway County Council's grant of permission for a new access link road and junction at the IDA's Parkmore West Business Park.

Galway volunteers provide refugees with coding skills for a better future

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

The Middle East has experienced unimaginable devastation since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. As in all wars, civilians are the innocent victims. In what was once one of the most modern countries in the region, it is estimated that 470,000 inhabitants have died since 2011, over 7.6 millions are internally displaced within Syria and over five million were forced to leave.

Whilst approximately one million are in Europe, most are living in the neighbouring countries of Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. In spite of the severe strain on their societies and economies, these host nations have responded with amazing generosity and friendship.

Have you entered Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh yet?

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

Gaillimh le Gaeilge is calling on businesses and organisations to seize the opportunity and put their names forward for Gradam 2017. Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh in association with the Galway Advertiser and with support from the Galway Chamber is now open for nominations.

A funded convention bureau in Galway will generate a million a month

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

It really seems to be a no-brainer. Galway is being left behind in attracting convention and conference business to the west, because of the lack of a funded convention bureau in the city.

Work continues in Galway to secure high quality water supplies for more than 14,000 people

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

Five water supplies in Co Galway have been removed from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) latest Remedial Action List (RAL) which was published this week.

The schemes are Ballyconnelly Public Supply, Carraroe Public Water Supply, Cleggan/Claddaghduff Water Supply, Kilconnell Public Water Supply, and Leenane Public Supply. This represents a significant investment by Irish Water in Co Galway which has been acknowledged by the EPA in their latest RAL update.

Celebrate the arrival of spring in Merlin Woods this weekend

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

Friends of Merlin Woods will hold an event in the woods this Saturday at 11am to mark Imbolc/St Brigid’s Day.

GRETB Training Centre now offering instrumentation and welding courses

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

The GRETB Training Centre, Mervue Business Park, Galway, is running two excellent courses in welding (arc and oxy-acetylene) and instrumentation upskilling.

Mindful self-compassion training

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

Our mental attitudes, beliefs, and expectations can have a big influence on whether we thrive and prosper or stagnate and decline. Rick Hanson, an eminent neuropsychologist, describes how the brain has a negativity bias designed to keep us safe rather than happy. He says that this makes our brain like Velcro for bad experience and Teflon for good experience. An example of this negativity can be seen in how we often relate to ourselves with harsh attitudes of self-criticism. But a harsh self-critical inner voice can undermine our self-confidence and self- esteem and lead to feelings of guilt and shame that undermine our mental wellbeing. This often results in higher levels of stress, anxiety, and low mood.

QQI Level 5 and 6 bookkeeping and payroll awards

Thu, Feb 02, 2017

GPA Solutions is delivering its successful QQI level 5 and 6 payroll and bookkeeping awards this spring.

E-paper

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